Veronica Campbell Brown on the way to her 21.98 victory in New York (© Victah Sailer)
Jamaican sprint stars will be hard pressed tomorrow (7) to produce wins, at the JN Jamaica International Invitational, an IAAF World Challenge Meeting, as they set about defending their home turf.
Several world class athletes are listed, including five reigning individual World champions in Sanya Richards-Ross, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Clement, Melaine Walker and Ryan Brathwaite. However, most fans will be watching in anticipation the sprints events, where the Jamaicans face very stiff opposition.
Campbell-Brown headlines the women's 200m field..
The women's 200m event features two-time Olympic champion, Veronica Campbell Brown and World and Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce - who is the second fastest over the half lap event this season with 22.69secs - and they present Jamaica's best chance of a sprint win.
Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Americans Bianca Knight and Porscha Lucas, together with Cayman Islands' Cydonie Mothersill, are also listed in the half lap event. Jamaicans Anneisha McLaughlin and Shericka Williams complete the field.
Campbell-Brown, who said it's good to be back home, is looking to do her best for the local fans.
"I like competing at home where the home crowd and the energy is fantastic", she said, "and as always, I expect to do my best."
Knight predicts the times will be fast. "It's a great field so I am looking forward to running fast. I am having a good year this season with a personal record in the 400m of 52.55."
"I am very strong right now, and usually run fast at this meet, I also heard the new track is fast, so I am looking forward to running fast come Saturday."
.. and Powell tops the men's
The men's 200m will see Jamaicans Asafa Powell, the former World 100m record holder, and Steve Mullings, the fastest man over 100m this season with 9.90, leading the charge against American Wallace Spearmon, the fastest by far in the field.
Powell said he is going to give his best, and hopefully in the end, "Break my personal best (of 19.90)."
Asked why he chose the 200m, Powell said: "It's not my choice, it's my coach's decision, I guess he wants me to get stronger for the 100m."
Mullings on the other hand said, "I am here to work on my 200m race towards the World Championships, that's about it, I just want to see where I am."
Commonwealth Games silver medalist Lanceford Spence, Canadian Jared Connaughton, Jamaican Marvin Anderson - who has not shown much this season - and young Nickel Ashmeade - who said he wants to run himself back into form - complete the line-up.
Jeter vs Stewart in women's 100m
In the men's 100m, Americans Trell Kimmons and Mike Rodgers - one of three men to run sub-10 this season - Darvis Patton, who won here in the past - Trinidad & Tobago's Richard Thompson and Antigua’s Daniel Bailey, will all be trying to stop Jamaica's Yohan Blake - who many believe has what it takes to win - and Michael Frater.
Thompson said with the top trio of Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Powell away from this event, "It's now up to us the second group, to battle it out. "The goal is always to go in and cop the win," he added.
American Carmelita Jeter and Jamaican Kerron Stewart, battled to the line last year, which means another exciting finish is in the making. But as Jeter seeks to defend her title, Stewart, Sherone Simpson and American Marshevet Myers may have other ideas.
Stewart said: "I expect the best from myself; I always go out there to give 100 per cent. I always run with my heart. I am going out there to compete, no matter who is in the race," she said.
Trinidad & Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste, along with Jamaicans Aleen Bailey, Simone Facey and Carrie Russell, are also in the field.
Richards-Ross vs Ohuruogu on the 400m
American World champion Sanya Richards-Ross and Great Britain’s Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu will re-new rivalry in the women's 400m.
Ohuruogu said she is, "Just looking to go run my own race and get a good time."
The field is a high classed one and based on Richards-Ross anchor-leg performance for USA Red at Penn Relays last week, she is some ways from her best, which means Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer and Novlene Williams-Ross, along with DeeDee Trotter can very well garner a win.
Despite the unknown form of Jermaine Gonzales, who had knee surgery last year, the men's 400m should also be competitive, with the likes of Chris Brown of The Bahamas, Calvin Smith of the USA and Trinidad & Tobago's Renny Quow. Ricardo Chambers and Allodin Fothergill are also listed.
In the middle distances, Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair in the 800m and Phillip Lagat in the men's 1500m, are top contenders in their respective events.
Sinclair said: "Coming to this meet always produces great stuff. This would normally be my opener, but I opened in Australia at the beginning of March, and I opened with 1:59, so I am hoping to have a season best, or close to a personal best here."
"My performance at Penn Relays showed that I'm in shape to run a sub 1:58, so the plan is, come to Jamaica, perform to the best of my ability and not get beaten in my home town."
In the hurdles event, American Terrence Trammell, Jamaican Dwight Thomas and Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados, will battle in the men's 110mH, while Jamaicans Vonnette Dixon and Delloreen Ennis are the top contenders in the women's 100m equivalent.
The one lap obstacle, on the men's side, should be competitive with world champion Kerron Clement, Jamaicans Isa Phillips and Danny McFarlane.
Phillips said: "I have not hurdled all season, so I'm just going out to see what I've got," while adding, "the focus is National trials and World Championships."
World and Olympic champion Melaine Walker, fellow Jamaican Shevon Stoddart, along with Americans Nicole Leach and Sheena Tosta are in the women's one lap hurdling event.
On the infield, Americans Adam Nelson and Cory Martin, along with Jamaican Dorian Scott, will battle it out in the men's Shot Put, while Brianna Glen, the second best in the world this year, Great Britain Shara Proctor and Jamaican Jovanne Jarrett will clash in the women's long jump.
Sheree Francis and High School girl Kimberly Williamson, the second and fourth ranked jumpers this year, are in the women's high jump.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
Several world class athletes are listed, including five reigning individual World champions in Sanya Richards-Ross, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Clement, Melaine Walker and Ryan Brathwaite. However, most fans will be watching in anticipation the sprints events, where the Jamaicans face very stiff opposition.
Campbell-Brown headlines the women's 200m field..
The women's 200m event features two-time Olympic champion, Veronica Campbell Brown and World and Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce - who is the second fastest over the half lap event this season with 22.69secs - and they present Jamaica's best chance of a sprint win.
Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Americans Bianca Knight and Porscha Lucas, together with Cayman Islands' Cydonie Mothersill, are also listed in the half lap event. Jamaicans Anneisha McLaughlin and Shericka Williams complete the field.
Campbell-Brown, who said it's good to be back home, is looking to do her best for the local fans.
"I like competing at home where the home crowd and the energy is fantastic", she said, "and as always, I expect to do my best."
Knight predicts the times will be fast. "It's a great field so I am looking forward to running fast. I am having a good year this season with a personal record in the 400m of 52.55."
"I am very strong right now, and usually run fast at this meet, I also heard the new track is fast, so I am looking forward to running fast come Saturday."
.. and Powell tops the men's
The men's 200m will see Jamaicans Asafa Powell, the former World 100m record holder, and Steve Mullings, the fastest man over 100m this season with 9.90, leading the charge against American Wallace Spearmon, the fastest by far in the field.
Powell said he is going to give his best, and hopefully in the end, "Break my personal best (of 19.90)."
Asked why he chose the 200m, Powell said: "It's not my choice, it's my coach's decision, I guess he wants me to get stronger for the 100m."
Mullings on the other hand said, "I am here to work on my 200m race towards the World Championships, that's about it, I just want to see where I am."
Commonwealth Games silver medalist Lanceford Spence, Canadian Jared Connaughton, Jamaican Marvin Anderson - who has not shown much this season - and young Nickel Ashmeade - who said he wants to run himself back into form - complete the line-up.
Jeter vs Stewart in women's 100m
In the men's 100m, Americans Trell Kimmons and Mike Rodgers - one of three men to run sub-10 this season - Darvis Patton, who won here in the past - Trinidad & Tobago's Richard Thompson and Antigua’s Daniel Bailey, will all be trying to stop Jamaica's Yohan Blake - who many believe has what it takes to win - and Michael Frater.
Thompson said with the top trio of Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Powell away from this event, "It's now up to us the second group, to battle it out. "The goal is always to go in and cop the win," he added.
American Carmelita Jeter and Jamaican Kerron Stewart, battled to the line last year, which means another exciting finish is in the making. But as Jeter seeks to defend her title, Stewart, Sherone Simpson and American Marshevet Myers may have other ideas.
Stewart said: "I expect the best from myself; I always go out there to give 100 per cent. I always run with my heart. I am going out there to compete, no matter who is in the race," she said.
Trinidad & Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste, along with Jamaicans Aleen Bailey, Simone Facey and Carrie Russell, are also in the field.
Richards-Ross vs Ohuruogu on the 400m
American World champion Sanya Richards-Ross and Great Britain’s Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu will re-new rivalry in the women's 400m.
Ohuruogu said she is, "Just looking to go run my own race and get a good time."
The field is a high classed one and based on Richards-Ross anchor-leg performance for USA Red at Penn Relays last week, she is some ways from her best, which means Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer and Novlene Williams-Ross, along with DeeDee Trotter can very well garner a win.
Despite the unknown form of Jermaine Gonzales, who had knee surgery last year, the men's 400m should also be competitive, with the likes of Chris Brown of The Bahamas, Calvin Smith of the USA and Trinidad & Tobago's Renny Quow. Ricardo Chambers and Allodin Fothergill are also listed.
In the middle distances, Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair in the 800m and Phillip Lagat in the men's 1500m, are top contenders in their respective events.
Sinclair said: "Coming to this meet always produces great stuff. This would normally be my opener, but I opened in Australia at the beginning of March, and I opened with 1:59, so I am hoping to have a season best, or close to a personal best here."
"My performance at Penn Relays showed that I'm in shape to run a sub 1:58, so the plan is, come to Jamaica, perform to the best of my ability and not get beaten in my home town."
In the hurdles event, American Terrence Trammell, Jamaican Dwight Thomas and Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados, will battle in the men's 110mH, while Jamaicans Vonnette Dixon and Delloreen Ennis are the top contenders in the women's 100m equivalent.
The one lap obstacle, on the men's side, should be competitive with world champion Kerron Clement, Jamaicans Isa Phillips and Danny McFarlane.
Phillips said: "I have not hurdled all season, so I'm just going out to see what I've got," while adding, "the focus is National trials and World Championships."
World and Olympic champion Melaine Walker, fellow Jamaican Shevon Stoddart, along with Americans Nicole Leach and Sheena Tosta are in the women's one lap hurdling event.
On the infield, Americans Adam Nelson and Cory Martin, along with Jamaican Dorian Scott, will battle it out in the men's Shot Put, while Brianna Glen, the second best in the world this year, Great Britain Shara Proctor and Jamaican Jovanne Jarrett will clash in the women's long jump.
Sheree Francis and High School girl Kimberly Williamson, the second and fourth ranked jumpers this year, are in the women's high jump.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
