Stars set for sizzling showdowns

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Another massive crowd is expected at the National Stadium this evening, as the upgraded JN Jamaica International Invitational track and field meet makes its eighth stop, with a battery of international athletics stars and the promise of exceptional performances set to blaze the track.

Five world champions will be strutting their stuff on the recently certified International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)-Class One track, with a few interesting arguments expected to be settled along the way.

Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Melaine Walker, along with Americans Sanya Richards-Ross, Kerron Clement and Barbados' sprint hurdling star Ryan Brathwaite, will look to get their preparations for their respective title defences at this year's IAAF World Championships in Athletics off to a good start at the meet, which now forms part of the IAAF's World Challenge Series.

Olympic and World 100m silver medallist Kerron Stewart will renew her rivalry with United States speedster Carmelita Jeter - the second-fastest woman ever. Jeter out-powered the Jamaican last year and will start as favourite once again, she being the only woman to dip below 11 seconds so far this season.

Simpson to stake claim

Not to be forgotten, joint Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson is reported to be in good nick at training and she will be keen to stake her claim, along with Trinidad and Tobago's hotshot Kelly-Ann Baptise and American Marshevet Myers, who both have sub-11 speed, with PBs of 10.86 and 10.93, respectively.

An interesting battle also looms in a highly competitive men's 100m field. MVP's Nesta Carter will be looking to build on his impressive 2010 - when his 9.78 was the joint fastest time for the year - when he faces Racers' Yohan Blake, the fourth-fastest Jamaican ever.

The latter will take a break from his strength work to line up in his first 100m of the season. The American trio of Mike Rodgers, the second-fastest man this year, Darvis Patton and Trell Kimmons, along with Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson, Daniel Bailey from Racers and Antigua and Barbuda and hometown stalwart Michael Frater - a former World Champs silver medallist, who says he is "much stronger" this season, will make this one of the most difficult events to call.

World champion Richards-Ross, who will be running her second 400m of the season, will feature in one of the most-anticipated races of the meet, along with Beijing Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, Jamaican 400m hurdles specialist Kaliese Spencer, who is responsible for the fourth-fastest 400m time this year, 50.95 (fastest in the field), and US indoor champion Natasha Hastings, who has been marginally slower than Spencer so far with 50.98.

Fraser-Pryce is best known for her ability in the shorter sprint, but with a season-best 22.69 in the 200m, the Olympic and World 100m champion will be looking to test Olympic 200m queen Veronica Campbell-Brown (22.95 this season) in her pet event, when the two square off at 9:15 p.m.

World Championships finalist Anneisha McLaughlin, Olympic finalist Cydonie Mothersill, former Olympic bronze medallist Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, and American Bianca Knight complete a strong field.

In the men's 200m, former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell enters the event with the best time so far this year, 20.55, among the entrants.

However, he will do well to beat Americans Wallace Spearmon who, with a personal best of 19.65, is expected to start his 200m account with a win here.

Steve Mullings has been promising big things this season, having registered the fastest 100m time this season, 9.90m, and should add some extra oomph to the contest.

Jermaine Gonzales, the national 400m record holder, will start his season in his pet event but, given his recent injury, may find it hard to better World Championships bronze medallist Renny Quow.

Clement is expected to make light work of the opposition in the 400m hurdles, as well as Melaine Walker in the female equivalent.

Action starts at 4:30 p.m. with a pre-game concert, while action on the track will get under way with the high school girls' 4x100m relay at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for the grandstand will range from $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500, while bleachers tickets will cost $500.