Jamaicans feature in big Zurich showdowns

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

THE penultimate Diamond League meet will get under way today, with the world's top athletes seeking valuable points at the Weltklasse Zurich spectacle in Switzerland, where nine Jamaicans are listed to compete.

With no 100-metre clash among the main highlight will be the 200m showdown between Jamaica's Yohan Blake and the United States' Walter Dix.

Blake has been creating a storm this season in both the 100 and 200 metres, and several weeks ago he became the country's second-fastest man in the half-lap event when he finished second to the American Tyson Gay at the Monaco meet in 19.78.

Dix, who is the joint-fastest American this season with Gay in the event - with a 19.72 clocking - will be hoping to salvage pride after his recent 100-metre run with Blake and Gay when he suffered cramps and failed to finish.

Jamaica's Steve Mullings will also run in the race.

Hurdler Dwight Thomas, coming off a good second place in his last race behind world leader David Oliver, will be hoping to maintain his good form, though the latter is set to win again.

Another highlight will be the 4x100 clash between world champions Jamaica and the United States. Despite missing both Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, the Jamaicans should still be competitive.

World leader Veronica Campbell-Brown will be aiming for revenge in the women's 100 metres, where she will face the United States' Carmelita Jeter. Both will be meeting for the third time this season and Campbell-Brown, after drawing first blood at the Eugene Meet in Oregon where she clocked a world-leading 10.78 seconds to defeat Jeter, who ended third, was beaten by the American, who ran 10.82 in Monaco, where Campbell Brown clocked 10.98.

Main rival

Series leader Kaliese Spencer, four points ahead of the United States' Lashinda Demus, will be aiming to stretch her lead when she meets her main rival in the women's 400 metres hurdles. The Jamaican will be seeking her fourth consecutive win while inflicting a second defeat on the American.

Both Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills will be hoping for better after lacklustre runs in the 400 metres, at Crystal Palace meet where they finished fifth and sixth, respectively. They will come face to face with the United States' Allyson Felix and Debbie Dunn, along with Russia's Tatyana Firova and Botswana's Amantle Montsho, in what should be a very competitive event.