Athletics: Powell and Gatlin to run at same meet

Joint world record holders Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin will run 100m races at this month's Prefontaine Classic - but not against each other, Powell's agent said today.

"There will be two 100 metres races and, as you might guess, Gatlin and Powell will not be in the same heat," Paul Doyle said.

Tom Jordan, the organiser of the meeting in Eugene, Oregon, on May 28 confirmed Doyle's comments.

"There will be two sections of the 100 metres," Jordan said.

"We wanted both Justin Gatlin and Asafa Powell in the Prefontaine Classic and with their big race coming up in Gateshead, England (on June) 11, it was not possible to get them in the same race," Jordan said.

"So we wanted to whet the appetite of track and field fans around the world by having them both run 100 metres."

The two races were hastily arranged on today the sport's world governing body, the International Association of Atheltics Federations (IAAF), said a timing error meant Gatlin had only tied Powell's world record of 9.77 seconds.

Gatlin's time was originally announced as a world record 9.76sec after his run in Doha last Saturday (NZ time).

Gatlin was scheduled to run a 100m race at the Prefontaine Classic and Powell a 200m race but the Jamaican today opted to run the 100m and separate races were then arranged.

"I just think it's great," Doyle said.

"Fans will get to see them both run, and it will prolong the suspense of when they do race against each other."

- REUTERS