Jamaicans poised for heated battle

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

World and Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will line up in her first high-profile 100m race of the season, when she faces countrywomen Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson, as well as American Speedsters Lauryn Williams and Carmelita Jeter, at the Prefontaine Classic IAAF Diamond League meet in Portland, Oregon, today.

Fraser-Pryce, who has been carrying a heavier-than-normal 200m load so far this season, will be looking to test her level of readiness for this year's IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, where she will be defending the 100m title she won two years ago in Berlin, Germany.

However, she may have to dig deep to better Jeter, who has already gone 10.86 seconds over the distance this season - the second-fastest time this year behind Veronica-Campbell-Brown's 9.76-second clocking in Ostrava earlier this week.

Joint Olympic silver medallists Simpson and Stewart will be looking to go below the 11.07 seconds they posted at the JN Jamaica Invitational last month, and could be pushed by what seems to be the best women's 100m field assembled so far this year.

Men's 100m

MVP stable-mates Nesta Carter and Michael Frater will get their 100m campaign under way, but should face a difficult challenge from compatriot Steve Mullings, who has been in impressive form so far this year, with a world's best 9.89 seconds.

Justin Gatlin, who is still finding his feet after returning from his recent drug ban, will also line up in the men's 100m, along with Michael Rodgers, who is one of five athletes to have gone sub-10 this year.

In-form Jamaican quarter hurdlers Melaine Walker (54.09) and Kaliese Spencer (54.20), the world's two fastest in the event this year, will line up in the women's 400m hurdles where they will face competition from two-time World Championships silver medallist Lashinda Demus of the US, in what should be another keen battle.

National record holder Kenia Sinclair, the only woman below 1:59.00 seconds so far this year, is favoured to take the women's 800m. The American pair of Maggie Vessey and Phoebe Wright are, however, expected to keep her honest.

Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams will face Allyson Felix, who has already gone below 50 seconds, Sanya Richards-Ross and Debbie Dunn in the women's quarter-mile.