By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport EditorA GALAXY of international and local track and field stars are expected to descend on the National Stadium on May 7 for the first Jamaica International Invitational meet.
The meet to be promoted jointly by Independence Park Limited (IPL), managers of the National Stadium and local sporting outfit Media Sports and Entertainment Limited (MSE) has already attracted some of the top sprinters from the United States including last year's World Championships 200m gold medallist John Capel and runner-up Darron Patton.
Also down to compete are 2003 World Championships 100m gold medallist Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown, silver medal winner in Paris and one of the hottest young sprinters around. Brown already has fond memories of the National Stadium having won the World Junior 100m title here in 2002.
The crack 100m field will include local champion Asafa Powell and could also attract world record holder Tim Montgomery of the United States.
Teenage sensation Usain Bolt is likely to be the big attraction in the men's 200m where he will match strides with teammate Ricardo Williams, Julian Golding of Great Britain who is ranked 18th in the world ninth-ranked Bahamian Dominic Demeritte and American Ramon Clay, the world's No. 11. World and Olympic 400m hurdles champion Felix Sanchez is also among the invitees and he is slated to run in the 400m also with national champion Michael Blackwood and local stalwarts Davian Clarke, Michael McDonald and 2002 World Junior Champions bronze medallist Jermaine Gonzalez.
PROGRAMME
According to organising committee member Donald Quarrie, the programme which will kick off at 7:00 p.m. includes men's 100m to 800m, long jump, high jump and 110m hurdles while the women's events will be 100m to 800, 100m hurdles and long jump.
Quarrie, the 1976 Montreal Olympics 200m champion, said strong efforts were being made to get Marion Jones for the women's 100m.
"She is 99 per cent sure but there are a few details to work out," Quarrie said at yesterday's press briefing at the National Stadium's Hospitality Room.
Already confirmed for the women's 100m are World Championships medallist Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas and Jamaica's Aleen Bailey, Tayna Lawrence, Bev McDonald and Juliet Campbell.
The 400m should include Jamaica's World Championships silver medallist Lorraine Fenton and top American Jearl Miles Clark.
Brigitte Foster who won silver in Paris heads the field for the women's 100m hurdles.
"Gail Devers, the world No. 1 is also a possibility with world-ranked fellow American Jenny Adams who was a World Championship finalist last year," Quarrie said.
Also at the press briefing were Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport Portia Simpson Miller - who said the meet has been in the planning stages since the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack visited here in 2002, IPL's general manager Michael Hall, Teddy McCook the IAAF's Area Representative, Howard Aris, chairman of the organising committee and world Test wickets record holder Courtney Walsh and Howard McIntosh, directors of MSE.
