Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Left: World 100m record holder Asafa Powell sprints out of the blocks while practising starts with other members of the Stephen Francis-trained Maximum Velocity Performance (MVP) Track Club at the National Stadium East field last Thursday. Looking on are Michael Frater (left), Shericka Williams (second right and Brigitte Foster-Hylton. All the athletes are down to participate at the May 6 Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium. Sherone Simpson goes through a routine during a practice session last month. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER. Right: Veronica Campbell - FILE.
WORLD RECORD holder for the 100m, Asafa Powell, will headline the star-studded line-up for the third Jamaica International Invitational, an IAAF Area Permit Meet on May 6 at the National Stadium.
Additionally, track & field fans can brace themselves for another mouth-watering clash between Olympic Games champion Veronica Campbell and Commonwealth Games winner Sherone Simpson over 200m.
Commonwealth gold medal winner Powell will face major competition in the meet's marquee event from fellow Jamaicans Michael Frater, a World Championships silver medallist, and Dwight Thomas, along with Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns.
Powell set the world record 9.77 seconds with a blistering run in Athens on June 14 last year and looked fairly impressive in early season outdoor competition at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last month, though his winning time was by his standards a moderate 10.03 seconds.
He clearly eased up in that final, stating that he never wanted to stress his body too much as he was only just recovering from the thigh injury that ended his season early last year.
HUGE INTEREST
Another race that will spark huge interest is the women's 200m in which Olympic cham-pion Campbell and Simpson will be meeting over the half-lap event for the second time in their senior career.
In their initial meeting, Simpson beat Campbell at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the rematch should be worth travelling miles to see.
Also in the women's 200m, world champion are Lauryn Williams and her American teammates Muna Lee and Dee Dee Trotter, along with CAC Championships gold medallist Cydonie Mothersill. That race is set to close the show at 9:05 p.m.
Also big on the 18-event programme is the men's 200m where local star Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay are set to renew rivalry.
Both athletes met last July and Bolt edged out Gay in positions decided by the camera.
Both ran 19.99 seconds for second and third respectively behind Wallace Spearmon's 2005 world leading 19.89 in London.
However, Gay was fourth in the World Championships final in 20.34 while Bolt who missed the Commonwealth Games because of injury, finished at the back of the field.
Commonwealth Games 200m gold medallist Omar Brown and bronze medallist Chris Williams, who is also the 2001 World Championships silver medallist, along with Trinidad & Tobago's Aaron Armstrong, should also make this race interesting.
Another hot line-up of the late-evening to night event, which is set to start at 6:30 p.m. with the High School sprint relays, is the women's 100m hurdles where American Olympic champion Joanna Hayes faces Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London. Lacena Golding-Clarke and Angela Whyte of Canada add depth to the competition.
In the men's 400m, Andrew Rock, second at the World Championships, will return to run the 400m, along with fellow American LaShawn Merritt, the defending champion, with Jermaine Gonzales, the Commonwealth bronze medallist, and veteran Davian Clarke the leading Jamaican competitors.
In the women's equivalent, national champion Shericka Williams and Lorraine Fenton are the top local stars lined up against Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards, the top 400m runner of 2005.
Olympic champion Felix Sanchez and silver medallist Danny McFarlane, along with the fastest man of 2005, Kerron Clement of the United States, headline a strong 400m hurdles field.
HIGH JUMP ADDITION
This year will see the addition of the women's high jump and 400m hurdles. There will also be a second 100m race, though the organisers say they have not yet decided who are the contestants.
According to Jamaica's Olympic great Donald Quarrie, athletes' agent for the meet, the reason for a second 100m "is to have some of our young athletes involved and to help other Caribbean countries".
Relating to the high jump, Quarrie said the event was added to give Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Karen Beautle (1.83m) a chance to improve on her height.
"We are trying to get some athletes who are jumping in her range. We put the high jump on because we think she did very well at the Commonwealth Games," he said.
"Getting someone who can jump 2.01m will defeat the purpose in this particular case," added Quarrie, who said this is also a way to try and get other athletes into high jumping.
Beautle's personal best is 1.86m, while the national record, held by Dianne Guthrie is 1.90m, set in Harrisonburgh in 1992.
CONFIRMED ATHLETES:
MEN: Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Dwight Thomas, Marc Burns (100m); Usain Bolt, Omar Brown, Tyson Gay, Chris Williams, Aaron Armstrong (200m), LaShawn Merritt, Germaine Gonzales, Alleyne Francique, Andrew Rock, Davian Clarke (400m); Felix Sanchez, Danny McFarlane, Kerron Clement (400 hurdles).
WOMEN: Sheri Ann Brooks, Debbie Fergison, Rachelle Boone-Smith, Peta-Gaye Dowdie, Muna Lee (100m); Veronica Campbell, Sherone Simpson, Lauryn Williams, Lee, Cydonie Mothersill, Dee Dee Trotter (200m); Sanya Richards, Monique Henderson, Christine Amertil, Novlene Williams, Lorraine Fenton, Sherika Williams, Sonia Sutherland (400m); Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, Joanna Hayes, Angella White, Lacena Golding-Clarke (100mH); Kenia Sinclair, Madrea Hyman, Mellissa Dillion (800m); Trecia-Kay Smith, Yamile Aldama (triple jump); Karen Beautle (high jump).
