Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

A KEEN battle is expected over the next two days between G. C. Foster College and University of Technology (UTech) as the Jamaica Intercollegiate Sports Association's 48th Track and Field Athletic Championships begin today.

The opening day's activities will be held at the G.C. Foster College, while day two action switches to the National Stadium East complex.

G. C. Foster College are the defending male and female champions.

Top-class performances are expected on the track, as well as in the field as UTech seek to get back the top of both sections.

UTech will be hampered in their women's bid as one of their sprinters, Alecia Cutenar, was injured during the Carifta Games Trials on Sunday at Stadium East.

She was expected to take the sprint double as she was in good nick, however, her teammate Shellyann Fraser should be a good replacement and with Nyoka Cole, who could run between 100m, 200m, and 400m, they are solid in the sprints.

Dangers

G.C. Foster will have Sudian Davis and Kaydene Mason in the sprints, while UWI's Yanique Levy and Knox's Veronica McLean should be seen as the dangers.

World junior 400m hurdler record holder KaliseSpencer is expected to run the 800m and 1,500m. She was the 800m champion last year and will look to do the same in the 1,500m and also set a new mark for the 800m - having done 2:06.30 already this year.

She will be supported by Nadia Cunningham or Sherrifa Williams, who may be doing the 400m as well,, but G. C. Foster have Jeraine Bolt, who could run the 400m and 800m.

Rosemarie White of G.C. Foster College and UWI's Aisha Hume and Mellesha Thomas should also play important roles at the championships.

The throws will be interesting with Tanya Thomas and Shauna Kay Wollery of UTech along with Angela Graham, Patrice Edmond of G.C. Foster and Natasha Grant of UWI should do battle.

The men's sprints will also be extremely competitive with UTech's Nester Carter and Jessie Saunders, along with G. C. Foster College's pair of Carl Barrett, the defending champion, and Cawayne Fisher leading the way. The 400m will see defending champion Tariq Edwards of UWI up against UTech's Mario Forsythe, while Markino Buckley will report for the 400m hurdles.

G. C. Foster should have the services of Allodin Fothergill in the quarter mile and Michael Mason while UTech's Andre Drummond should have things his way in the middle distances.