![]()
BOLT
Rising star Usain Bolt heads a list of Jamaicans down to participate at the Reebok Grand Prix at the Icahn Stadium in Randall Island, New York today.
The speedy athletes are using the event to fine tune their preparation for the World Champion-ships to be run from August
6-14.
Teenage sprinter Bolt gets a good yardstick to measure his progress when he goes up against American Olympic 200m silver medallist Bernard Williams.
The 18-year-old Bolt, who holds the World Junior Record with a 19.93 clocking at the 2004 Carifta Games, registered 21.04 in his first race since last year's Olympics at the Jamaica International Invitational in May.
This is Bolt's second run and many are waiting with bated breath to see how he matches up against the Olympic silver medallist and moreso, his time as he eased up while scoring impressively at the Jamaica International Invitational.
Another teenage star, LaShawn Merritt of United States, is listed to start in the half-lap event. Merritt's fastest time this season is 20.38 seconds in April, slower than that of his US counterpart, Leo Bookman, who will also run in the event.
Bookman clocked 20.34 while finishing second behind Bolt at the Jamaica International Invitational.
Athens medallist
Another Jamaican Athens medallist down to compete is Olympic 400m hurdles silver medallist Danny McFarlane, who faces world rated American James Carter, the second fastest this season with a 47.95 clocking.
McFarlane's season best is 49.01.
Other Jamaicans who will be participating at the meet are 100-metre female hurdlers Delloreen Ennis-London, Vonette Dixon and Andrea Bliss, men's high hurdler Christopher Pinnock, Novelene Williams in the women's 400m, and in the 800m, Kenia Sinclair who held the previous world best, along with Madrea Hyman and regular 400m runner Ronetta Smith.
National champion Ennis-London, Dixon and Bliss will tackle American Olympic champion Joanna Hayes in the 100m hurdles, while in the men's high hurdles Pinnock will face China's Olympic champion Liu Xiang.
Williams will line-up against American Olympic mile relay gold medallist Monique Hennagan and Dee Dee Trotter in the 400m, whereas Sinclair, Smith and Hyman are down for the two-lap event
Double Olympic gold medallist Veronica Campbell was slated to participate at the event made a late withdrawal yesterday.
She was listed to run in the 100 metres, where she was an overwhelming favourite after registering a world leading 10.96 seconds at the Adidas Classics late last month.
In her absence Athens relay gold medallist Tayna Lawrence, whose fastest time this season is the 11.45 seconds she recorded last week, and 2000 national champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie, will carry the Jamaican hopes.
