FROM LEFT ARE POWELL, FOSTER, SIMPSON, COLLINS - File photos
THE WORLD'S number one ranked 100-metre sprinter, Asafa Powell, heads a list of stars down to participate at today's fourth renewal of the Queen's/Grace Jackson Meet set for the Stadium East, starting at 9:00 a.m.
Other big names on the card are World Championships 100m hurdles silver medallist Brigitte Foster, World 100m champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis and Olympic relay gold medallist Sherone Simpson.
It is the first time since his magnificent showing on Grand Prix circuit last season when he recorded nine sub-10 clockings, that Powell will be running this season.
IMPROVING STRENGTH
However, none of the star athletes will be running their pet event as in an obvious move to improve their strength, Powell and the Glen Mills-coached Collins are participating in the men's 400 metres.
The same applies to the female sprinting stars as hurdler Foster, Simpson, who finished sixth in the women's 100m final at last summer's Athens Olympics, and Sherika Williams, will be testing their stamina in the one-lap event.
Jamaicans Gregory Little and Oral Thompson, both of the United States-based MVP Group which includes Olympic sprint champions Justin Gatlin and Shawn Crawford, and is coached by Jamaica's Trevor Graham, will also be on show. They will contest the 200m.
Meanwhile, defending champions Kingston College head a list of over 70 schools down to take part at the meet. Jamaica College, St. Jago and Calabar are also among the boys teams, while St. Andrew High, Immaculate Conception High, Manchester High and The Queen's School head the girls' list.
Freddie Green, an international track official, will be in charge of the meet named in honour of Olympic silver medallist Grace Jackson, who is now first vice-president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA).
A lot of prizes are on offer, including one each for the Top Performer and Top Coach. There will also be Digicel phones on raffle for officials and supporters, while a Special Olympics tent will be set up, allowing athletes and supporters to meet with Jamaican Olympians such as Vilma Charlton and Grace Jackson.
Other sponsors such as GlaxoSmithKline, Colgate, Wata, Singer, NCB, Eurostar Motors and Puma will be awarding special prizes.
Events to be contested are the 300m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 800m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, triple jump and high jump.
