By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Torri Edwards - file

Athletes down to compete at tomorrow's Douglas Forrest Invitational Track & Field meet at the Stadium East field will be watched by Olympians Ato Boldon of Trinidad & Tobago and American, Torri Edwards.

Boldon and Edwards, along with Simone Forbes, who helped Jamaica to third place at the World Netball Championships, last year, will be special guests at tomorrow's meet. Boldon, who won the 100m silver and 200m bronze for Trinidad & Tobago at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will also be scouting for talent.

"This visit serves two purposes, one is to be in Jamaica," he said while hinting that he will be looking at athletes like the outstanding sprinter, Yohan Blake, of St. Jago.

"It's to get guys like that on my radar and look on how these guys are developing," added Boldon, who also won 100m and 200m bronze medals at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Like previous years, the organising committee, headed by Brian Smith, has invited the past and present stars to visit and interact with the youngsters.

"We believe if we can bring these people here to Jamaica and they (local athletes) can interact with them, they just might learn a thing or two and that is why we going for them," said Smith.

Six overseas teams are also down to compete. Star Trackers and Road Runners clubs from Bahamas will carry 25 and 18 athletes, respectively, while 15 are down to come from the Cayman Islands, 12 from Turks and Caicos Islands and 10 each from Miami Dade County, in Florida, and Curacao.

The events to be contested are 200m, 400m, 800m, 3000m, 5000m, relays, shot put, and all jumps.

Last year, over 2,500 athletes took part, and according to Smith, more are expected to this time around.

Most of the island's top schools, Calabar, St. Jago, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Herbert Morrison, St. Andrew High, Immaculate, Wolmer's and Queens are expected to send teams to the meet.