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ZURICH -- Arriving on the heels of his triple gold medal-winning performance at the World Championships in Osaka, Tyson Gay made no promises of a world record performance when the Golden League series resumes on Friday at the Weltklasse here in Zurich.
"It will come when it should come," said Gay, who last week became only the third man to win both the 100 and 200m titles at a world championship. "I know I can do it, but I cannot tell when it will happen."
In Osaka, Gay handily defeated 100m world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica in 9.85 seconds, with Powell fading to third in 9.96. Powell will not race in Zurich, but Bahamian Derrick Atkins, the silver medallist in Osaka at 9.91, will be on the start line.
While the track at the recently rebuilt Letzigrund stadium is said to be fast, a world record assault seems to be the farthest thing from Gay's mind.
"Anything under ten seconds will satisfy me when I take into account how I feel after my tough program at the World Championships." Gay also ran the third leg on the victorious 4x100m relay, knocking his gold medal haul to three, equalling the feats of Maurice Greene and Carl Lewis.
"I still feel a little sore, slightly tired. I need to concentrate a lot also mentally after fulfilling my goals in Osaka."
Fatigue will likely play a major role in Zurich on Friday, with most athletes arriving after 12 hour flights over seven time zones.
This will be Gay's second appearance at the fabled Zurich meet. A year ago, he clocked a personal best 9.84 behind Powell who equalled his own world record of 9.77.
"I have excellent memories from Zurich," he said.
Prior to his ascendancy to the upper ranks in the short dash in the latter half of last season, Gay was tabbed, fairly or not, as a stronger exponent of the 200m. And the half-lap still holds a special place for the young American.
"In my heart the special event remains the 200 meters," he said. "The 200m record --[Michael Johnson's 19.32 from 1996]-- is one of the best records in our sport, but I think it possible to break it, you just need to have the right conditions, weather and wind."
That being the case, he'll be watching the 200 attentively in Zurich, where the two men who finished behind him, Jamaican Usain Bolt and training partner Wallace Spearmon, will square off. The race also features Xavier Carter, who's coming out party in the event last year was halted by injury at the U.S. championships in June.
The women's 100m field includes Americans Lauryn Williams and Carmelita Jeter, the silver and bronze medallists in Osaka, and Kim Gevaert of Belgium, the European double sprint champion.
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