By Anthony Foster, Freelance writer 
Wignall (left) and Beckford (right)
SEVEN MEMBERS of Jamaica's 2003 World Athletics Championships squad are down to compete at today's Asics Grand Prix meet set for the 1952 Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.
This is the final IAAF Grand Prix meet on the circuit before Saturday's start of World Championships at the Stade de France, Paris. The Jamaicans that will be in search of morale boosting victories today are Asafa Powell, Ricardo Williams, Maurice Wignall, Danny McFarlane, Ian Weakley, James Beckford and Mardrea Hyman.
In the men's 100m dash, national champion Powell faces a stern test from world leader Patrick Johnson of Australia (9.93) and the in form American Justin Gatlin (9.97), both are among six athletes to go below 10 seconds this season.
Powell, who recorded a personal best (10.09) to win the Malmo AI Galan, Folksam Grand Prix meeting in Sweden will also have Namibia's Frank Fredericks, whose season best is 10.00, Nigeria's World Cup champion Uchenna Emedolu and Britain's double European 60m indoor champion Jason Gardener to challenge.
In the men's 200m, Williams is expected to face a competitive field. The Jamaican, who finished second at the Grande Premio de Brasil de Atletismo meet earlier this month will be up against this year's second fastest man over the distance Shawn Crawford, Joshua J. Johnson, who is listed at fifth and world indoor champion Marlon Devonish of Britain.
The men's 110m hurdles where national record holder Wignall is down to face the starter has a line up of several Americans led by their Paris squad of Terrence Trammell, Larry Wade and Chris Phillips, as well as Duane Ross.
PERSONAL BEST
However, Wignall, the national champion with a season and personal best of 13.28 has only ran faster than Trammell (13.32 season best) of the Americans and could find things hard.
In the absence of world leader and number one Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic along with Jamaica's Kemel Thompson, who is listed second this season, Weakley, McFarlane, United State's Joey Woody and Llewellyn Herbert of South Africa should decide the top finishers in the 400m hurdles.
James Beckford (8.21m season best) has a very good chance to secure gold in the men's long jump, this as both his main competitors Eugnetius Gaisah of Ghana (8.21m) and Nicola Trentin of Italy (8.20m) have not done better than him this season.
Jamaica's lone female competitor, Hyman is down to contest the women's 800m against Agnes Samaria of Namibia.
