Press Release Gatlin Vs Gay Vs Powell
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Press release Gatlin vs Gay vs Powell: big clash in the 100 m Great opposition for Hussein in the 400m hurdles The 100m has always been one of the highlights of Athletissima, and it will be no different this year. With the 3 fastest men this season, Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay, who have all won at least one time at the Pontaise and confirmed their presence, there will be an electrifying atmosphere on the evening of July 9. 2004 Olympic champion and 2013 vice-world champion Gatlin has not been defeated either in the 100 or the 200m for over a season and a half. In his latest race, in Rome, he got just 1/100th of a second short of his own world leading time of the year which he set in Qatar at the opening of the Diamond League series. Another clear message to his opponents, amongst whom Usain Bolt, who will run the 200m in Lausanne. This domination makes the American the clear favorite of the race. One year ago, he won in Lausanne in 9.80, just ahead of Gay, who himself had won the race 12 months earlier in 9.79, just ahead of… Powell. The Jamaican won four times in Lausanne (2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011), with a personal best of 9.72 seven years ago. The three sprinters, who are all in their 30s (Each 33 years of age), have already shown their ambitions this year. The "cheetah" clocked 9.74 in Doha, Powell 9.84 in Kingston and Gay 9.88 in Eugene. This year they have not faced each other yet and Athletissima is likely to be their first face-off this year. In the 400m hurdles, after Eugene and Rome, Kariem Hussein, the reigning European champion, will have another opportunity to up his game and get one step closer to the world's best and the 48 second mark. In a very high level race, he will be facing no other than the two-time winners of Athletissima American Bershawn Jackson (2006 and 2010) and Porto Rican Javier Culson (2013- 2014). In Rome, the latter, bronze medalist at the London Olympic Games, was just 11/100th of a second faster than the Swiss. Other athletes in the 400m hurdles will include Michael Tinsley, silver medalist in London and at the last world championships. Athletissima/Presse service Follow us on: www.facebook.com/athletissima www.twitter.com/athletissima www.youtube.com/athletissimalausanne www.linkedIn.com/company/athletissima .