Bolt to strike again

Double world-record holder Usain Bolt has taken up the invitation of Prince Albert II and will lead a host of Jamaicans inside Monaco's Stade Louis II, at the Herculis 2011 Samsung Diamond-League meeting later today.

The Principality's supremo had extended the invitation to the Olympic and World 100m and 200m champion over a year ago, prompting the big Jamaican's first appearance at the high-profile meet.

Bolt, who has had a below-par season so far by his own lofty standards, will be looking to make a statement ahead of next month's IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, and he certainly has the sort of field that can push him to a fast time, with some real threats expected to face the starter.

Among Bolt's challengers today over 100m are compatriots Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, who will start as the third-fastest Jamaican in the 100m with a season's best 9.88 seconds, which he posted in Eugene, Oregon, earlier last month.

Other challengers

United States' Michael Rodgers - the fourth-fastest man so far this year with 9.85 seconds, and the ever-improving Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, who himself has posted 9.95 seconds run this season, will also be looking to upstage Bolt and his Jamaican comrades.

Olympic and World silver medallist Kerron Stewart has been turning the screws over the past month or so after a late start to her season, and is beginning to look like her old self. The former St Jago High student will have to be at her best over 200m, however, as she comes up against a very strong field that includes world champion Allyson Felix and four of the world's five fastest over the distance this year: US national champion Shalonda Solomon and her countrywomen Carmelita Jeter, Bianca Knight and Jeneba Tarmoh.

Solomon is the fastest over the distance this season with an impressive 22.15 seconds clocking, which she posted on her way to winning the US trials in June.

Jeter, who favours the 100m, is next best with 22.23 seconds while Tarmoh, 22.28, Knight, 22.35, and Felix, 22.38 seconds, have all gone faster than the Jamaican this season, with Stewart posting a best of 22.63 seconds so far.

Three Jamaicans will be in action in the women's 400m as World Championships-bound Rosemarie Whyte and Davita Prendergast from the Racers Track Club will be joined by national champion Novlene Williams-Mills.

Diamond League leader Amantle Montsho of Botswana and young American Francena McCorory are also listed to start and should figure prominently as well.

- A.L.

Selected events

Women

400m - 1:25 p.m.

Davita Prendergast

Rosemarie Whyte

Novlene Williams-Mills

200m - 1:45 p.m.

Kerron Stewart

MEN

100m - 2:40 p.m.

Usain Bolt

Nesta Carter

Michael Frater