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Athletics

Gatlin confirms UK race dates

11/04/2006

British athletics fans are in for a treat this summer following the news that American sprint king Justin Gatlin will race in three events in England.

The World and Olympic 100 metres champion, who is still only 24, will compete at all three Norwich Union major international events this summer.

This schedule will see him first feature in Gateshead on June 11th before racing in London and then Birmingham during July and August.

Gatlin himself said he was extremely excited at the prospect of competing in England and at making his debut appearance in Gateshead.

"Gateshead will be my first race in Europe this season, and I'm really pleased to be starting out in the north-east as I've not raced there before," he said.

"I love running in front of a British crowd so I'm really looking forward to visiting that part of the UK."

The New York athlete also pledged to give it his all in attempt to break Jamaican Asafa Powell's world record of 9.77 seconds and he even suggested this could be the ideal season to see a new record set.

"I'm the world champion, so of course I want that world record," he added.

"With no World Championships this year, running fast times is going to be even more important, so I think it would be a great time to try for the 100m world record."

Gatlin currently holds the UK all-comers' record after running a blistering 9.89 seconds at the London grand prix last summer.

He is viewed as one of the few top sprinters who can challenge the awesome Powell but his participation in England could also have a positive effect on this country's own 100m sprinters.

The likes of Mark Lewis-Francis and Jason Gardner were widely criticised for their poor showings at the recent Commonwealth Games but they could find the motivation to rise to the task of challenging Gatlin on home soil this summer.

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