Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (left), who is also the Minister of Sports, listens as Olympic 200m gold medallist Donald Quarrie (right), who is the athletes' agent, outlines details for the Jamaica International Invitational track meet at a press conference held at Jamaica House yesterday. President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), Howard Aris (centre), looks on. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
ORGANISERS HAVE promised a bigger and better Jamaica International Invitational track meet this year.
Details of the event - an IAAF Area Permit Meet which is scheduled for the National Stadium on Saturday, May 6 - were announced at a press conference at Jamaica House yesterday.
Olympic gold medallist Donald Quarrie, who is acting as athletes' agent for the meet, said: "This meet will be bigger as far as names and competition than last year."
The organisers said the names of the overseas athletes will be made public next week, but it was reported that all the Jamaican stars would be in action.
World 100m record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell head the list of Jamaicans, which also includes world triple jump champion Trecia-Kaye Smith, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Sherone Simpson, Usain Bolt, Jermaine Gonzales, Michael Frater, Kenia Sinclair and Kemel Thompson.
While not making any predictions, Powell promised a good race.
"Just expect a good performance from me. I am going out there to do my best and you know, I'm at home so I have to go out there and put down a good performance so the people in Jamaica can really see some live, good performances.
"Last year I ran 9.84 seconds, but I don't know if I will push it, and if I can go that much (fast now), but I'm going there to do my best.
"I want to meet any, everybody ... any and everybody," Powell repeated with a smile.
Bolt, who missed the Commonwealth Games with a slight injury, said he will be ready to defend his 200m title.
"I think I'm ready for May 6. Right now I am just doing some strength (work) and a little sharpening up ... "I just want to go out there and do my best and hope that it's good for me and the fans," said Bolt.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who also doubles as the Sports Minister, said: "The Jamaica International Invitational Meet which will be held in May of this year, provides another opportunity for us to display our mastery to the world not only on the track but also in promoting and conducting successful international meets."
She added: "One way of demonstrating our seriousness is by staging international meets that are of such high quality that Jamaica will become the choice venue for top athletes around the world."
Quarrie said if they were to accept all the requests, they would need twice the number of lanes.
"There is a great desire to compete here, it's in May, it's the first set of meets in the season, and everyone wants to get a good time ... And I think the atmosphere here in Jamaica, it's warm, it's conducive for good performances so we are not short of requests to compete in Jamaica," he added.
Though the organisers were tight-lipped about the competitors, Quarrie, who was pushed to comment, admitted that Olympic sprint double champion Justin Galtin, will not be in Jamaica.
Quarrie said a few Kenyans will be on show to add flavour to the 800m and 1500m events.
"Having them (Kenyans) will be good motivation for our youngsters," Quarrie said.
This year will see the addition of the women's high jump and 400m hurdles. There will also be a second 100m race, though they have not yet decided who will run in it.
The reason behind this, according to Quarrie, "is to have some of our young athletes involved, and to help other Caribbean countries."
There will also be 4x100m and 4x400 relays for high schools.
