Several star athletes, headed by world 100m record holder Asafa Powell, will take the track in Saturday's inaugural University of Technology (UTech) International University Track Meet, which will be held at the National Stadium.

Powell who holds the world 100m record of 9.74 seconds and has a personal best of 19.90 over the half lap distance, will face compatriot Michael Frater and Trinidad & Tobago's Darrell Brown. The improving Nester Carter is also listed for the 200m.

Bridgitte Foster-Hylton, silver and bronze medallist, from the World Championships in 2003 and 2005 respectively, will open her season in the 100m hurdles.

In the women's 400m, former national sprint double champion Sherone Simpson, who was the fastest woman in 2006, will face a competitive field.

Simpson, a member of Jamaica's sprint relay winning team at the Athens Olympic Games, will face her MVP teammate Melaine Walker and Jamaica's Kerron Stewart, who will represent Auburn University. Simpson so far has the second fastest 400m tine in the world, 51.74, a time she did last month in Australia.

World Junior Championships bronze medallist Sonita Sutherland of Sprint Tech, should add some fire to this field. Sutherland has struggled with injury over the past year, but she should be a serious contender among this field.

Pan American silver medallist Jody-Ann Powell, formerly of Manchester High and G. C. Foster College, returns to the National Stadium to run the 100m.

Also returning with the Lincoln University team are Kawayne Fisher, Michael Trusty, Marcia Wollery and Carla Thomas.

Jovanee Jarrett will travel with the Auburn team and will compete in the women's long jump.

Anthony Davis, director of sports at University of Technology (UTech), also disclosed at last week's launch that entries have been received from several overseas universities, including the University of Puerto Rico, as well as The United States' Virginia State, and Cuba.

In addition to the foreign contingent, athletes from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a number of local clubs and institutions, including Racers, Sprint Tech, Atletico and the GC Foster College will also be in action at the meet.

The athletes will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, triple jump and javelin, as well as both the 4x100m and the 4x400m relays.