Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay could meet in New York

SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - A 100 meters showdown between Jamaican Usain Bolt and world champion Tyson Gay could take place at New York's grand prix meeting on May 31.

Bolt, who on Saturday in Jamaica clocked 9.76 seconds for the second-fastest 100 meters ever, told Reuters on Sunday his schedule included a 100 meters race at the New York meeting.

His agent Ricky Simms was not as certain.

Simms said via e-mail that Bolt would run a 100 meters in Trinidad on May 18 and would probably compete in another race over the distance in late May or early June.

"Probably between New York, Berlin and Oslo," Simms said.

The Golden League season opens in Berlin on June 1 with Oslo the second stop on June 6.

Gay is expected to run in New York although neither his nor Bolt's participation has been confirmed. Gay's agent Mark Wetmore is the New York organizer.

Gay clocked a wind-assisted 9.76 seconds in New York last year and has indicated that he wants to follow the same schedule as he did in his 2007 run-up to the 100 and 200 meters world titles.

Bolt, who finished second to Gay in last year's world championship 200 meters, said he spoke briefly to the American after they ran separate events in Jamaica.

"He told me congratulations," Bolt said.

"I told him I wanted to defeat him," Bolt said. "I told him to watch out in the 200. I said I was definitely looking forward to a showdown."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)