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US athletes tuneup for Olympic Trials at Prefontaine meet

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2015 file photo, Justin Gatlin, from the U.S., wins the men's 100m at the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics event at Brussels' King Baudouin stadium. Before a race, the mild-mannered American sprinter says he transforms himself into the feisty guy named "J Gat," a nickname he's given to a version of himself that wants to take over the world from archrival Usain Bolt. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2015 file photo, Justin Gatlin, from the U.S., wins the men's 100m at the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics event at Brussels' King Baudouin stadium. Before a race, the mild-mannered American sprinter says he transforms himself into the feisty guy named "J Gat," a nickname he's given to a version of himself that wants to take over the world from archrival Usain Bolt. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)

By Associated Press 4 min read

With an eye toward this summer’s Olympic Trials, the 100-meter field at the Prefontaine Classic this year includes Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay.

They’ll face Jamaican Asafa Powell, the former world record holder, in this weekend’s meet at Hayward Field, the only U.S. stop for the international Diamond League series.

For many American athletes, the Pre is part of the preparation for this summer’s trials, which will also be held at Hayward. The top three finishers at the trials will be part of the team that goes to the Rio Olympics in August.

That it’s on home soil is a bonus for Gatlin.

“We don’t get to run a lot in the U.S.,” he said. “You have to take advantage of times you run in the U.S., especially when it’s televised, for your friends and family and fans to watch.”