Athletics: Powell ready to face Gatlin

LONDON - World record holder Asafa Powell can even the score when he lines up against Olympic champion Justin Gatlin in the 100 metres at the London Grand Prix on Saturday NZ time.

Gatlin was given the verdict over Powell in their only other meeting this year in Eugene, Oregon although both were timed at a wind assisted 9.84 seconds.

"That wasn't really a race for me," the 22-year-old Powell told reporters on Wednesday. "I was only 95 per cent fit and I didn't run to my full potential."

The Jamaican ran a world record 9.77 10 days later in Athens's Olympic stadium, the scene of Gatlin's surprise triumph last year.

The pair were due to meet in Rome earlier this month but Powell withdrew with a groin injury. Gatlin won the race in 9.96 seconds.

"Yesterday I trained and felt very good. It felt like the old Asafa Powell," he said.

Talking about his main rival for the 100 title at next month's world championships in Helsinki, Gatlin said: "The best acknowledge each other I think, and right now we see each other as the best out there.

"I feel confident when I race against him. I feel confident when I race against other people. I just know that I need my A game because I know spectators are watching, critics are watching, especially when we go head-to-head," the 23-year-old American added.

World champion Kim Collins and former world and Olympic champion Maurice Greene are also in the field. Home hopes rest on Olympic 100 metres relay gold medallist Jason Gardener.

Women's pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia has said she will attempt to break the five metres barrier if conditions are right on Friday.

The 23-year-old Olympic champion has already set two world bests this month, sailing over 4.95 metres in Madrid last Saturday to beat her previous record of 4.93 set on July 5.

- REUTERS