Gay plans quick 100m in U.S trials opener

By Gene Cherry

EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - World champion Tyson Gay hopes to make only a brief appearance when the U.S. championships begin on Thursday in this American athletics hub.

"I plan to run the first round of the 100 metres and see how things go," the 2007 world 100 and 200 metres champion told Reuters on Tuesday. "If I execute everything I need to work on, I'll just leave it at that."

Otherwise he could run another round or two, he said.

Gay plans to defend both his titles in the August world championships in Berlin, setting up a much-anticipated showdown with Jamaican world record holder and Olympic champion Usain Bolt.

The four-day meeting will select the U.S. team and only Gay and the seven other defending U.S. world champions are guaranteed spots.

Most of the team will be chosen in cut-throat fashion with the top three finishers in each event qualifying for Berlin.

INJURY WORRIES

Injury concerns have played a key role in Gay's decision to limit participation.

Defending world champions can collect their Berlin wildcards by competing in one round of any event at the nationals.

"The national championships are very important to me, but it also is very important for me to stay healthy," the 26-year-old said. "I learned that last year, running real fast and then not having time to recover."

Gay set an American record of 9.77 seconds in the 100 at the U.S. Olympics trials, then was injured in the 200. He ran only the 100 at the Beijing games but did not make the final.

"That is kind of why I am basing my decision," he said. "I want to stay healthy for the world championships."

Other defending world champions will take a variety of routes to collect their free passes to Berlin.

Women's 200 metres winner Allyson Felix will run both the 100 and 200 metres while men's 400 metres champion Jeremy Wariner will contest the 200.

Double champion Bernard Lagat will race at 800 metres to prepare for the 1,500 and 5,000 metres title defenses and Kerron Clement will bypass the 400 metres hurdles to run the 400 metres.

Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt is the 400 favourite.

Women's 100 metres hurdlers world champion Michelle Perry, shot put winner Reese Hoffa and pole vault titlist Brad Walker will compete in their events.

Key performances also are expected from season leaders Bershawn Jackson (400 hurdles), Dwight Phillips (long jump) and Sanya Richards (women's 400).