Gay hopes ideal conditions will help 100m record bid

American sprinter Tyson Gay believes the current summer weather in London should help him target Asafa Powell's 100 metre world record at today's London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.

"I wouldn't want any other conditions, it's 70 degrees, the wind is really still and I am really looking forward to a fast time here," Gay told Reuters.

Gay has recorded a year's best 9.84 seconds this year but his last attempt to better Powell's world record of 9.77 seconds was hampered by low temperatures and persistent rain in Sheffield last month, where he managed only 10.13 secs.

With the world championships approaching in Osaka this month, Gay said he needed a fast time to set the tone after struggling with a knee problem recently.

"It would give me a huge boost before the world champs," he said. "That is what I am looking forward to, even if I ran anything under 9.9, I would be extremely happy and focused."

On his last visit to Crystal Palace last year, the American won the 200 metres in a stadium record time of 19.84 seconds.

When asked about the absence of Jamaican rival Powell from the event, Gay said he was happy to wait to face him at the world championships.

"I think it is just going to make it more exciting waiting until Osaka," he said.

"I think it is better that we're racing in Osaka. I've not been 100 per cent for the past three weeks and he's not been 100 per cent either."

In the women's field, Sanya Richards, the 2006 world athlete of the year, is aiming to repeat her success at Crystal Palace last year, where she ran the 400 metres in a stadium-record time of 40.05 seconds.

The American failed to make the US team for Osaka in the 400 but will compete in the 200 metres.