Treble world champion Tyson Gay will run his first 100 metres of 2009 at the US athletics championships as he prepares for the World Championships in Berlin in August.

The US championships, which start next Thursday in Eugene, Oregon, are the selection meeting for the world meet.

As defending world champion Gay has a bye from the IAAF in both the 100m and 200m, but plans to race at least a single, high-intensity, first-round heat in Eugene to gauge his 100m fitness, a statement from USA Track and Field said Friday.

According to USATF, Gay hasn't ruled out the possibility of running all three rounds of the 100m in Eugene.

In his only race this year, Gay won the 200m at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York on May 30 in 19.58sec, the third-fastest time ever.

"After his performance in New York, it is obvious that Tyson is in great shape," said USATF chief executive Doug Logan. "We look forward to seeing him back in Eugene in the 100."

Gay, who also won 4x100m world championship gold at Osaka in 2007, is on the comeback trail after a 2008 Olympic season marred by injury.

In his absence, Jamaica's Usain Bolt emerged as the dominant sprinter in the world, winning three gold medals (100m, 200m, 4x100m) in world record time at the Beijing Olympics.

AFP