LONDON: American sprinter Tyson Gay believes the current summer weather in London should help him target Asafa Powell's 100m world record in Friday's London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.

"I wouldn't want any other conditions, it's 70 degrees, the wind is really still and I am really looking forward to a fast time here," Gay told Reuters on Wednesday.

Gay has recorded a year's best 9.84 seconds in 2007 but his last attempt to better Powell's world record of 9.77 was hampered by low temperatures and persistent rain in Sheffield last month, where he managed a time of only 10.13 .

With the world championships approaching in Osaka this month, Gay said he needed a fast time to set the tone after struggling with a knee problem recently.

"It would give me a huge boost before the world champs," he said. "That is what I am looking forward to, even if I ran anything under 9.9, I would be extremely happy and focused.

"I really need to run fast here to get some confidence."

On his last visit to Crystal Palace last year, the American won the 200m in a stadium-record time of 19.84 seconds.

When asked about the absence of Jamaican rival Powell from the event, Gay said he was happy to wait to face him at the world championships.

"I think it is just going to make it more exciting waiting until Osaka," he said. "I think it is better that we're racing in Osaka. I've not been 100 percent for the past three weeks and he's not been 100 percent either."

In the women's field, Sanya Richards, the 2006 world athlete of the year, is aiming to repeat her success at Crystal Palace last year, where she ran the 400m in a stadium-record time of 50.05 seconds.

"I really like the stadium, I went out there again yesterday and remembered how great the meet was last year and I am hoping to run just that fast and faster this year," Richards told reporters.

The American failed to make the US team for Osaka in the 400 but will compete in the 200m.

She said she had put the US championships behind her and added: "I am way past that, I am looking forward to winning the Golden League at 400 and going after the gold medal in the 200 in Osaka."

Meanwhile, the event organisers confirmed on Wednesday that British long jumper Greg Rutherford would be absent because of a hamstring injury.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/03/2007 page23)