Gatlin wants to run world record 9.75 in Doha

DOHA (Reuters) – World and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin
is aiming to clock a world record 9.75 seconds in Friday’s 100
metres race at the IAAF Super Tour meeting in Doha.

The 24-year-old American sprinter said that beating
Jamaican Asafa Powell’s record of 9.77, set in Athens last
year, was his chief priority after winning both Olympic and
world championship gold medals.

“I am aiming to clock 9.75 this year,” he told reporters.
“There are no major global championships in 2006 — so my aim
is to add the world record to my name. And it can happen here
in Doha.”

Powell will miss Friday’s race, but Portugal’s Francis
Obikwelu and Olympic 200 metres champion Shawn Crawford will
provide stiff competition for Gatlin, who has never won in
Doha.

In 2004, he was beaten by compatriot Crawford and last year
Obikwelu outpaced him.

But after clocking a remarkable 9.95 seconds in his first
outing this season at Osaka, the Trevor Graham-coached sprinter
is confident.

American Terrence Trammell and Nigerians Uchenna Emedoulu
and Olusoji Fasuba will also help push Gatlin in his world
record bid.

Close finishes are also expected in the men’s 3,000 metres
and 400 metres hurdles.

The Kenyan trio of Eliud Kipchoge, Augustine Choge and Ben
Limo are expected to fight it out in the 3000 metres while
world 400 metres hurdles champion Bershawn Jackson of the
United States faces a fight against Greece’s Periklis
Iakovakis.