Gay and Powell to race at British Diamond League meets
Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell and ex-world champion Tyson Gay will meet at this year`s Diamond League events in Birmingham and London, organisers said in a statement on Friday.
|Last Updated: Apr 01, 2011, 10:21 AM IST|Source: Bureau
London: Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell and ex-world champion Tyson Gay will meet at this year`s Diamond League events in Birmingham and London, organisers said in a statement on Friday.
American Gay won by 0.02 seconds over the Jamaican in Gateshead last year and they will clash again on July 10th in Birmingham and at the Aug. 5-6 Crystal Palace meeting.World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt is likely to miss both events, due mainly to British tax rules on promotional earnings that the Jamaican blamed for his absence last year.
Powell will however face his compatriot in the Rome Diamond League meeting on May 26, while Gay is also set to compete in the New York equivalent on June 11 as the trio prepare for the world championships in South Korea in August and September.
"This year is most definitely about preparing for the world championships and these two meets (London and Birmingham) will be an important part in that process," Powell said.
"Going head-to-head with Tyson last year in Gateshead reminded us of the great rivalry we have had over the years and I`m not scared to put myself up against him; we drive each other on," Powell, 28, added in the organisers` statement.
The Birmingham meeting is the ninth event of this year`s 14-race Diamond League series that starts in Doha on May 6 and it replaces last year`s Gateshead event, although it is London that provides Powell with his fondest memories.
"I have only run in Birmingham once before, but if it is like London I know there will be a lot of Jamaican fans coming to support us. It`s because of this support that running in the UK always feels like being at home."The gold medallist in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 ran the fastest time on British soil five years ago in Gateshead, clocking 9.77 seconds.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.