Posted: May 10, 2006

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 34

Gatlin vs. Powell in 100m duel June 11

Reigning world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin will take on men's 100m world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica June 11 at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix at Gateshead, which is a Grand Prix leg of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.

The much anticipated 100m battle comes after both competitors won separate races in 9.95 seconds last weekend.

Gatlin and Powell met most recently last July at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix, where Powell pulled up early in the race with a groin injury that ended his season. Gatlin, who owns a lifetime six to three edge in wins over Powell, barely edged his Jamaican rival at the 2005 Nike Prefontaine Classic when both crossed the finish line in the wind-aided time of 9.84 seconds.

For more information on the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, visit www.iaaf.org.

Hot hurdles races on tap at Nike Prefontaine Classic

Three hurdles races featuring a dazzling array of U.S. and International stars will be held at the 2006 Nike Prefontaine Classic May 28 in Eugene, Oregon.

The third event of USATF's 2006 Outdoor Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic will be televised live on ESPN2 from 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time.

In the men's 110m hurdles, 2005 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Allen Johnson of the U.S. will compete at Pre for the tenth time during his storied career. Johnson won the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta the year of his first appearance in 1996. Olympic gold medalist and Prefontaine Classic meet record holder Liu Xiang of China returns for a second consecutive year where he'll face reigning world champion Ladji Doucouré of France, making his first-ever Pre Classic appearance. This race is so loaded that it features six of last year's top 10 hurdlers in the world as ranked by Track & Field News magazine.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes will square off against reigning world champion Michelle Perry, plus meet record holder (12.45 seconds) and World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica.

The men's 400m hurdles features Helsinki gold medalist and the #1 ranked competitor in the world last year Bershawn Jackson. 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, also is entered along with 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist James Carter.

Tickets for the 2006 Nike Prefontaine Classic are still availablein-person at the University of Oregon Athletic Department Ticket Office, by phone from 1-800-WEBFOOT, andonline at www.goducks.com. For more information on the Nike Prefontaine Classic and the 2006 Visa Championship Series, visit USATF.org.

Nelson back atop men's shot put rankings

2005 Helsinki World Outdoor champion Adam Nelson reclaimed his status as the world's top ranked shot putter in the IAAF World Rankings this week after beating his compatriot and previous number one, and reigning World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa, and Olympic bronze medalist Joachim Olsen of Denmark.

Nelson won the IAAF World Athletics Tour meet in Dakar, Senegal, with a toss of 21.28 meters/66 feet 6.50 inches (1337 points) and rose from third place to take the event lead by two points ahead of Hoffa. Nelson also took a big step in the Men's Overall Ranking, climbing from 66th spot to 37th.

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