By Gary Smith, World-Track
EUGENE — Former world record holder Asafa Powell and world sprint double champion Tyson Gay could face each other over 100-metres at the Sunday’s Prefontaine Classic, to be held at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Powell is already confirmed to race at the meeting and according meeting director Tom Jordan, Gay, fresh from his stunning 19.58 second at the Reebok Grand Prix on Saturday, is considering making an appearance in the 100m.
"The plan is if Tyson Gay competes, he would be in the same section with Asafa," Jordan said.
Gay’s manager Mark Wetmore also confirmed with Reuters that the American wants to race again, but is also trying to be careful.
The 26-year-old made his debut over 200m in New York at the weekend with the third fastest 200m time ever and had initially scheduled to compete again at the U.S. championships in Eugene, later this month.
"He would really like to run at Prefontaine," Wetmore was quoted as saying. "It’s all a question of if he feels like he is ready to run next weekend.
"He is feeling pretty good about things and I think he now does want to get one in. His heart is telling him he should go race, (but) his head is telling him ‘just be careful here.’"
Meanwhile, Powell, who is still battling to be fit after suffering an ankle injury earlier this month, is hoping to better the 10.10 seconds seventh place finish Saturday.
Powell’s fellow training partners and countrymen Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, two of the members on that historic Olympic relay 4x100m world record breaking team, will also race in the 100m.