London - Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt will cross paths at the London athletics meet later this month, but the world's top sprinters won't be in the same race in the final countdown to the world championships.

The three-time world champion Gay said on Monday that he will run the 200m at the July 24/25 event at Crystal Palace. Bolt, a three-time Olympic champion, is listed for the
100m and 4x100m.

"The race in London is important for me as a final test for the world championships," said Gay. "Another 200m fits perfectly into my preparation for Berlin at this time and London will be the place to do that."

The worlds in Berlin are scheduled for August 15-23 and will see the first meeting of the stars this year.

Gay limped out of the 100m at the Beijing Olympics and didn't run the 200m as Bolt won both races, and the sprint relay, in world record times.

But Gay has underlined his ambitions to defend his world titles against the Jamaican sensation by leading the 2009 world list in both events, 9.77 seconds over 100m and
19.58 seconds in his only 200m race so far this year.

Bolt has 9.86 and 19.59 seconds, respectively, in 2009. He is also scheduled to run the 100m at the Golden League meet in Paris on Friday.(dpa)