Powell and Gay confirm double Diamond League head-to-head

ASAFA Powell has vowed to continue laying down the challenge to Usain Bolt when he goes head-to-head with former world champion Tyson Gay at this year's IAAF Diamond League meetings in Gateshead and London.

HEAD TO HEAD: Asafa Powell takes the victory ahead of Tyson Gay during the IAAF Golden League Memorial Van Damme meeting last September. They will clash against in the Aviva-sponsored Diamond League Grands Prix in Gateshead and London (Getty Images)

Powell's 9.82 second 100m time in Rome remains this season's quickest while the lightly-raced Gay ran an impressive 9.89 secs during last month's Great City Games in Manchester.

The pair have not raced against each other since last September and Gay currently edges the Jamaican in their head-to-heads with eight wins to seven.

But Powell has fond memories of the Gateshead track, venue for the Aviva British Grand Prix next month, equalling the then 9.77 sec world record there four years ago.

"I'm looking forward to it, I know that I have a pretty serious race lined up with Gay competing as well and I'll be going all out to make sure that I get a faster time," said Powell.

"Myself and Tyson are clearly the two that are going after the world record but I truly believe that it's mine to lose at the moment, Tyson has not been competing that much this year and I know he's been injured so I'm looking to take advantage of that. 

"I'm feeling good and am on form so I'm confident that I'll place first in this race - I'm certainly aiming for that."

Gay, who has yet to appear in this season's Diamond League, was originally due to race over 200m in Gateshead but switched distances for a more competitive race.

"A really competitive race is exactly what I want at the moment," he said.  

"This season we have both been running extremely fast so far, but I'm still hoping to come away with the first win.

"Records have been broken before at Gateshead, so I know it's a quick track. If the conditions are right and Asafa and I are both on form, then I expect we will see one of the fastest times of the year.

"Racing against Asafa in London and Gateshead will mean that we are pushing each other to run faster and get closer to that 9.50s that I see as a real possibility and something that I'm aiming for."

* Tickets for the Aviva British Grand Prix at the Gateshead International Stadium on July 10 and for the Aviva London Grand Prix at the Crystal Palace on August 13 and 14 are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk