Tyson Gay holds off the challenge from Asafa Powell in the 100m (© Getty Images)
Stockholm, SwedenReigning double dash World champion Tyson Gay will run the 100 metres at DN Galan at Stockholm Olympic Stadium Friday, July 31, organizers have announced.
“After London I will run my final 100 metre race at the Olympic Stadium before heading to the World Championships in Berlin,” Gay said.
The DN Galan is a Super Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2009.
The Stockholm outing will be a great dress rehearsal against eight runners with sub-10 second personal bests. One of them is Asafa Powell the former World record holder.
“Tyson Gay against Asafa Powell is a duel that all meetings dream of and it is fantastic that we have it,” said meeting director Rajne Söderberg. “But we also have seven of the world´s fastest men, among them three of the finalists at the Beijing Olympics.”
Last year the duel at the Stadium was between Powell and Usain Bolt, with the former taking the win. What kind of indication will this year´s duel be with the World Championships one month away?
Gay tied his American record, 9.77 eight days when he won the 100m in Rome. Asafa Powell was second with 9.88.
“It´s exciting to come to a meet where they award a special gift like the diamond for a Stadium record. I hope Rajne Söderberg has to give out ten diamonds at the meet. If I happen to be lucky enough to win one, I would give it to my little girl Trinity,” Gay said.
Gay loves the Stadium.
“The track is fast, but the fans and conditions are the reasons for World records. I’m sure everyone is lining up to run their personal best like myself. To eliminate the track, the part of the Stadium that has given it its rich history and make it into a soccer only Stadium, does not seem right.”
Powell, 26, who at DN Galan in 2006 ran the current Stadium record with 9.86, has set four world records. Powell clocked 9.77 three times before lowering it again to 9.74 in Rieti, Italy in 2007.
Gay, 26, won his first championship medal, (bronze at 100 metres) at the World Championships in Helsinki in 2005. Two years later he was King of the World Championships in Osaka with three gold at 100 metres, 200 metres and the 4x100 metre relay.
Keijo Liimatainen for the IAAF
“After London I will run my final 100 metre race at the Olympic Stadium before heading to the World Championships in Berlin,” Gay said.
The DN Galan is a Super Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2009.
The Stockholm outing will be a great dress rehearsal against eight runners with sub-10 second personal bests. One of them is Asafa Powell the former World record holder.
“Tyson Gay against Asafa Powell is a duel that all meetings dream of and it is fantastic that we have it,” said meeting director Rajne Söderberg. “But we also have seven of the world´s fastest men, among them three of the finalists at the Beijing Olympics.”
Last year the duel at the Stadium was between Powell and Usain Bolt, with the former taking the win. What kind of indication will this year´s duel be with the World Championships one month away?
Gay tied his American record, 9.77 eight days when he won the 100m in Rome. Asafa Powell was second with 9.88.
“It´s exciting to come to a meet where they award a special gift like the diamond for a Stadium record. I hope Rajne Söderberg has to give out ten diamonds at the meet. If I happen to be lucky enough to win one, I would give it to my little girl Trinity,” Gay said.
Gay loves the Stadium.
“The track is fast, but the fans and conditions are the reasons for World records. I’m sure everyone is lining up to run their personal best like myself. To eliminate the track, the part of the Stadium that has given it its rich history and make it into a soccer only Stadium, does not seem right.”
Powell, 26, who at DN Galan in 2006 ran the current Stadium record with 9.86, has set four world records. Powell clocked 9.77 three times before lowering it again to 9.74 in Rieti, Italy in 2007.
Gay, 26, won his first championship medal, (bronze at 100 metres) at the World Championships in Helsinki in 2005. Two years later he was King of the World Championships in Osaka with three gold at 100 metres, 200 metres and the 4x100 metre relay.
Keijo Liimatainen for the IAAF
