SHOWDOWN: Gatlin v Powell In Athens

Members Area In the News
1

By Gene Cherry

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - A 100 meters showdown between world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin is being negotiated for Athens in early July, the sprinters’ agents said on Thursday.

“Athens on the third (of July) probably sounds like the place,” Gatlin manager Renaldo Nehemiah told Reuters when asked where the two rivals might meet for the first time this year.

Powell’s agent, Paul Doyle, and Athens Super Grand Prix meeting athletes’ liaison Georgios Constantopoulous also confirmed talks were under way for Gatlin and Powell to meet in the Greek capital on July 3.

Doyle said he also was discussing the possibility of a Powell-Gatlin meeting at Gateshead, England on June 11, but organizer Ian Stewart said that was not likely.

“The expectation level of the (financial) figures for Powell are off the chart,” Stewart told Reuters in a telephone interview from England.

If Powell and Gatlin were to race in Britain, “it more likely would be London (July 28) than Gateshead,” Stewart said.

Gatlin is under contract to run both races as well as the international meeting in Birmingham on Aug 19-20.

SPECIAL MEANING Continued…

The Athens venue has special memories for Gatlin and Powell. Gatlin won the Olympic 100 meters there in 2004 and Powell broke the world record in Athens last June, clocking 9.77 seconds.

It is also the site of American Maurice Greene’s 1999 then-100 meters world record.

“You can’t get better than that,” Doyle said in a telephone interview. “And by that stage they are both going to be in top form.”

Constantopoulous said Athens organizers would be holding more talks with the sprinters’ agents next week.

“Of course, I would like to have both of them,” Constantopoulous said in a telephone interview from Greece. “But I have to ask (their agents) how much they want for their athletes.”

That could be deciding factor wherever the two race.

Both will run in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on May 28, but in separate races. Gatlin will likely run a 100 meters there and Powell a 200.

Gatlin will open his season with 100 meters races in Osaka, Japan on May 6 and Doha, Qatar on May 12.

Commonwealth Games champion Powell will return to competition on May 6 with a 100 meters run in Kingston, Jamaica.

2

I’ll put money on one of them not finishing the race.

3

Gatlin Perspective : Athens v.s. Powell…that would be the perfect time and place to try and go for the World Record.

Powell Perspective: Perfect opportunity to get revenge for all the unfortunate matchups he had in the past with Gatlin.

My Perspective: I CANT WAIT

4

WHEN IT WAS ATO BOLDON V DONOVAN BAILEY V MAURICE GREENE V FREDRICKS.

http://media.putfile.com/ATO-BOLDON

Its was week in week out. How many times will they race each other this year, once, twice.

I hope Maurice Greene and Shawn Crawford teaches them a lesson.

We need heavyweights to go head to head week in out, for the sport.

None of this complicated sht. I think its the Powell camp thats shtting out, talking about money.

Gatlin has laid it down, he is competing over in the Uk three times, Golden league.

When will Dwain Chambers race. Looks like we have to wait half a year for people to race each other. just race!

5

Are you kidding me? Powell has had far more races than Gatlin has this year (which is 0 for Gatlin), but Powell is the one wussing out from racing? Powell is the WR holder and deserves his money. Read Speed Trap?