James expects 'very best' from MVP cast

Bruce James, president of MVP Track & Field athletics club, is expecting sterling performances from their athletes who have been confirmed for the highly anticipated JN Jamaica International Invitational, to be held this Saturday at the National Stadium.

Donald Quarrie, executive member of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), confirmed that eight of the MVP members would participate in the 2011 JN Jamaica Invitational.

Those who will be in the starting blocks are Jamaica's first 100m World record holder Asafa Powell; Olympic and World Championships 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; Olympic and World Championship 400m hurdles gold medallist Melaine Walker; Olympic relay (4x100m) gold medallist and 100m silver medal winner Sherone Simpson; Olympic and World Championship 400m silver medallist Shericka Williams; and International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) Diamond League 400m champion Kaliese Spencer.

Meanwhile, Nesta Carter, Jamaica's third-fastest man in history and the fastest man in the world for 2010 over 100m, with a career-best 9.78-clocking, has also been confirmed, along with Olympic and World Championships sprint relay gold medallist and World Championship 100m silver medal winner Michael Frater.

"I expect our athletes to do their very best," said James when pressed as to whether fans should expect records to be broken at the meet.

While a bit reserved in saying that the presence of the club's athletes in the line-up this year will excite patrons, James agreed that Jamaicans were "savvy" in identifying the quality that his athletes bring to the table.

"The MVP Track & Field Club has 10 World and Olympic medal winners and we know that Jamaicans are savvy (about) this," he said, pointing out that his athletes always perform to their best based on their conditioning.

The JN Jamaica Invitational was upgraded to IAAF World Challenge level, which is the step before achieving Diamond League status. It will be broadcast live via international cable television to more than 160 million households in 25 countries around the world.

Tickets are on sale at eight Jamaica National Building Society branch locations; the National Stadium; York Pharmacy in Half-Way Tree and The Wyndham Kingston hotel.