100 metres heat begins

The planet two fastest men, Usain Bolt, the world record holder for 100 metres and Asafa Powell, the former record holder will be in action tonight Jamaican time as track and field at the 2008 Beijing Olympics begins.



One of the two should give Jamaica its first 100-metre Olympic title on Saturday night in the 91,000 capacity Bird Nest stadium.



Up first will be Bolt, who will face the starter at 8.45 p.m. He runs in the first of 10 heats with Powell in heat two.



Jamaica’s other entry, Michael Frater, the 2005 World Championships silver medalist, will run in heat four.



The top two Jamaicans see as their main rival, American Tyson Gay, will start in heat five.



While most of the attention will be on the sprinters, a number of other athletes will begin competition.



National record holder Dorian Scott, who led the world rankings early in the season, competes in the shot put.



Kenia Sinclair faces a tough early test in the women’s 800-metre heats as she lines up against Kenya’s superwoman, 18 year old Pamela Jelimo.



Athens silver medalist Danny McFarlane starts his campaign tomorrow in the 400-metre hurdles along with Markino Buckley and Isa Phillips.



Trecia Smith, who has been dogged by injury in the past two years and steeplechasers Korine Hinds and Mardrea Hyman are the other Jamaicans in action tomorrow.