Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Powell, Gatlin match-up rescheduled

Thursday, June 8, 2006

by: Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

LONDON, England: For the second time this season the joint world's fastest men, Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin, have set a London head-to-head match up.

Following the breakdown in their first clash, which was scheduled for Sunday, June 11, organisers of the Norwich Union London Grand Prix confirmed on Tuesday that the pair will face-off at the event on July 28.

Gatlin, the World and Olympic champion over the distance, withdrew from the well anticipated Gateshead showdown, but organisers are confident this duel will take place.

"Gatlin is contracted for this race and his manager, Renaldo Nehemiah, and Paul Doyle (Powell's manager) have both said they have a desire for the race to take place," Andrew Wallace, a spokesman for Fast Track said.

On May 28 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic meeting held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, both sprinters raced against each other in separate heats with Gatlin coming away the winner after posting a scorching 9.88sec to win the first section. Powell won the second in a time of 9.93

In the meantime, Powell, who travels to London for this weekend's IAAF British Grand Prix in Gateshead said after a few comfortable races this season, he's now ready to run fast. Powell, who shares the 100-metre world record of 9.77 seconds with Gatlin, has promised that he will produce something special before the season is compete.

"I have still been holding on a little from the injury, but give me two more races and I'll be all right," he said. "I'm also practicing something new my coach has devised.

"Shortly, I expect to be regularly running 9.80's, as I'll have much more speed," he added. "London is a very good track and I want to achieve something special there."

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