Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
American Kerron Clement (right) wins the Jamaica International Invitational men's 400m hurdles in an impressive world-leading 47.79 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Danny McFarlane (48.74) at the National Stadium last night.

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

AMERICAN WORLD Championship sprint double champion Tyson Gay has brushed aside Michael Johnson's prediction that Asafa Powell would have to trip him to win the Olympic Games 100m title in Beijing this summer.

Gay, who participated at last night's Jamaica International Invitational meet, said he respected Johnson, the 200m/400m world record holder, but didn't agree with his comments.

Great race expected

"I really don't think that's the truth," responded Gay. "I respect Johnson, but I know Asafa is going to put up a great race"

In a chat room discussion on the IAAF website on Monday, Johnson, a many-time Olympic champion, was asked "What would your advice be to Powell to win 100m Olympic gold?" Johnson replied: "Trip Tyson Gay".

Johnson said Gay, 25, was more consistent.

"He's got better performances at championships," Johnson said, and added that Powell "failed time after time" at big events.

Would love to meet Powell

Johnson was making reference to Powell's third-place finish behind Gay at the World Cham-pionships in Osaka last year and his fifth at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Meanwhile, Gay said he would love to meet Powell before the Beijing Olympics.

"If I meet Asafa (before Beijing) I will be ready and I presume that he will be ready ... if I meet him at the Olympics I will be ready and I am sure he will be ready, too," he said.

See a full report of last night's Jamaica International Invitational in tomorrow's Gleaner.