by Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Sanya Richards ... will run 400m.
The fourth staging of the Jamaica International Invitational meet has attracted several star athletes, including three 2007 World champions: Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown and Americans Tyson Gay and Kerron Clement.
At the launch of the meet yesterday at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston, Sports Minister Olivia Grange pledged $21 million for the meet, which has also attracted local star Usain Bolt and Americans Sanya Richards and Wallace Spearmon.
The clash of the meet, set for May 3 at the National Stadium, will see Bolt against Spearmon in the men's 100m.
The athletes have opposed each other on many occasions in the past, most of these over the 200m. Bolt won their only 100m showdown last year in Rethimmo, Greece, in 10.03 seconds, with Spearmon behind in 10.20. Overall, they have met 14 times with Spearmon winning the vast majority of those races - nine times.
Bolt, who opened up with a 10.03 run at G.C. Foster College earlier this year, and Spearmon, a World Championships 200m bronze medallist, will face off against 2003 World champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis, American Darvis Patton and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles in a top-quality 100m field.
Campbell-Brown is down to run the 200m where she will face Americans Shalonda Solomon (22.36 PR) and Bianca Knight. Knight, earlier this year, broke Campbell-Brown's 200m indoor college record. Also down to compete in this event is Aleen Bailey.
World's top athlete
In the men's 200m, World Championships sprint double winner Gay, Campbell's training partner, will face Jamaicans Marvin Anderson, a finalist in Osaka, Chris Williams, the 2001 World Championships silver medallist and Clement Campbell, along with Brendon Christian of Antigua and Barbuda.
The women's 400m will feature Jamaica-born American Sanya Richards, the world's top athlete over the distance, Jamaican, Novlene Williams, and American DeeDee Trotter.
The other world champion, Kerron Clement, will take on Jamaicans, Danny McFarlane, the 2004 Olympic Games silver medallist, Isa Phillips and Adrian Findlay, along with American Derrick Williams, the winner of the this event at last year's meet. The women's event has attracted LaShinda Demus of the United States, her compatriot Markita James, along with Jamaicans Walker and Shevon Stoddart.
In the men's 400m event, Jamaicans Ricardo Chambers, Sanjay Ayre and Michael Blackwood will match strides with United States' Andrew Rock.
American Marshevet Hooker will head the women's 100m field while Kenia Sinclair and Hazel Clark of United States will do battle in the women's 800m.
In the field, the leading competitors will be Jamaicans James Beckford (long jump), Elva Goulbourne (long jump) and Dorian Scott (shot put).
Meanwhile, Asafa Powell, the world's fastest man and other members of his world-class MVP Track Club, will not be competing at this year's event.
According to Donald Quarrie, the meet's liaison official who negotiates with the athlete, the MVP group had prior engagements.
The high-profile MVP team also includes Olympic relay gold medallist Sherone Simpson, the top female sprinter in 2006, World Championships silver and bronze medal sprint hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton, World Championship 1600 metres relay silver medal winner Shericka Williams and Trinidad and Tobago's Darrell Brown, the 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist.
However, one member of the Stephen Francis-coached group, Melaine Walker, will compete. According to Quarrie, the athlete's manager, Juliet Campbell, insisted that she compete at this meet.
( L - R ) Danny McFarlane ... 400m hurdles, Wallace Spearmon ... for 100m.
( L - R ) Bianca Knight ... to run in 200m., Marshevet Hooker ... 100m. - file photos
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