Anthony Foster, STAR Writer
( L - R ) Frater, Bolt, Powell
BEIJING, China:
AT 8:45 tonight (Jamaica time), Usain Bolt will be the first Jamaican to face the starter in the men's 100m, the event billed as the main attraction at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Bolt, the world's 100m record holder with 9.72 seconds, is set to line up in heat one as the opening day of track and field gets under way.
Contributed to hypeThe Jamaican superstar will be followed on track by the two men who have also contributed significantly to the hype surrounding this event - his countryman and former world record holder Asafa Powell (9.74), who runs in heat two, and American Tyson Gay (9.77), who is slated to run in the penultimate heat.
Gay declared Bolt as the favourite at a press conference on Monday.
"He's a young guy and he likes to have fun. People are expecting him to win the gold medal," said Gay, who has not run competitively since pulling up at the USA trials in June.
"I'm in the (background), but I've had some good practices," he added.
Gay also said it would take a 9.7s timing to win, as he predicted a very fast final.
Relaxed moodContrary to what Gay believes, Bolt pointed out that he's in a relaxed mood.
"I don't put myself under pressure," he said in an interview with STAR Sports. "I am not worried (about anything)."
He added: "Hopefully I am in the best form of my life and just go out there, stay focused and run."
In his heat, Bolt is down to face his Racers Club and High Performance Training Centre training partner, Daniel Bailey, of Antigua and Barbuda.
Bailey, whose personal best is 10.12 and Italian Fabio Cerutti at 10.13, are the second and third fastest in the heat.
Powell will be joined in heat two by another Caribbean man, Kim Collins, the 2003 World Championships gold medallist from St Kitts and Nevis.
Powell, the bronze medallist from last year's World Championships, said this is his year.
In the past, the top-ranked sprinter failed to deliver on the big occasion but he's promised that "this time I am going do it".
Speaking to reporters here, he added: "I am feeling very confident. My training is going very well and I have only one aim in mind."
Emphasising Caribbean strength is another first round clash that pits a third Jamaican, Michael Frater, who will line up against Trinidad & Tobago's Darrell Brown. Both are World Championships silver medallists and training partners at MVP Track Club.
Carry flagIn the men's 400m hurdles, preliminary round, Danny McFarlane, Markino Buckley and Isa Phillips will carry Jamaica's flag.
Kenia Sinclair, who is not at her best this season, should welcome Kenyan Pamela Jelimo, the fastest woman over the distance in Beijing with 1:54.97.
Frenchwoman Elodie Guégan with 1:58.93, has also performed better this season than Sinclair (1:59.00).
Mardrea Hyman and Korene Hinds are also down to participate, in the women's 3000m steeplechase, in the afternoon session.
Trecia Smith, the 2005 world champion, is listed among the triple jump entrants, while Dorian Scott faces a huge tack in the men's shot put.
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