KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Sprint sensation Usain Bolt has been confirmed to run the 200 metres at next month’s JN Jamaica International Invitational, but there will be no Asafa Powell or World and Olympic sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser.
The double world record holder and Olympic champion, Bolt will headline the IAAF Area Permit Meet set for the National Stadium on May 1.
However, Powell and Fraser are two of six Jamaican athletes along with World sprint hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Shericka Williams, Olympic and World 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker and Sherone Simpson who will not be participating in the meet.
Reports indicate that the Invitational was not a part of the athletes’ schedule for this year and the group all belong to the much vaunted MVP track club which is run by the successful coach Stephen Francis.
The 23-year-old Bolt, the hottest commodity on the contemporary sprint circuit, will face the likes of American Wallace Spearmon in the half lap.
Meanwhile, another American Carmelita Jeter will face off against Olympic and World silver medalist Jamaican Kerron Stewart, in the women’s 100 metres.
Jeter had expressed an interest in running at the meet, in a quest to face her main rivals, the Jamaican sprinters on their home soil.
“It’s a 99 per cent chance that we will have a match-up with Jeter and Kerron in the women’s 100m,” Donald Quarrie, the athletes’ liaison, said at a press conference on Friday.
The 100-metres field also includes American Marshevet Hooker, along with Jamaicans Aleen Bailey and Simone Facey. American Muna Lee could also be added to the field.
Two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, will run her pet event the women’s 200m while World 400m champion Sanya Richards will join American counterpart Bianca Knight and Bahamian Debbie Ferguson, in challenging Campbell-Brown in the half lap event.
The United States duo of Darvis Patton and Ivory Williams will be in the men’s 100m with Jamaicans Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Yohan Blake joining them.
Kerron Clement of the United States is the other big name down for the meet and will clash with the Jamaican duo of Danny McFarlane and Isa Phillips in the 400 metres.
