Sherone Simpson (right) and Veronica Campbell are slated for different races on the Jamaica International Invitational meet on May 5. - file

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

JAMAICA'S TWO fastest women, Sherone Simpson and Veronica Campbell, will be kept apart at this year's Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium on May 5.

In announcing the list of stars down to grace the track at the National Stadium, meet director Donald Quarrie said it was best to keep them apart.

Quarrie, the 1976 Olympic 200m champion, said Simpson and Campbell were Jamaicans and there shouldn't be anyrivalry around them.

He said the decision was geared towards results at the World Championships.

"It is to uplift track and field (in Jamaica), to get as much medals as we can and to steer our athletes in the right direction," Quarrie said at yesterday's launch at the Hilton Kingston hotel.

Simpson will face Debbie Ferguson of Bahamas and Rachelle Boone-Smith in the 200m while Campbell will go up against Ferguson in the 100m.

Meanwhile, World 100m record holder Asafa Powell and Jamaican-born American Sayna Richards are the headline names for the meet, dubbed 'Build a Vibes - bring track & field alive'.

Powell will face Michael Frater, Darrell Brown and Dwight Thomas in the men's 100m.

One-lap event

Richards, the fastest woman over the one-lap event, will line up against Novlene Williams, Shericka Williams and Bahamian Christine Amertil.

In the men's 400m event, Usain Bolt, American LaShawn Merritt, who won the event last year, Germaine Gonzales, Lansford Spence and Andrew Rock of America head a top-class field.

Tyson Gay, who lost to Bolt in the 200m last year, will this time around face Commonwealth Games Omar Brown and Trinidad and Tobago's Aaron Armstrong and Chris Williams.

Jamaicans Danny McFarlane and Dean Griffith, along with Kerron Clement of United States, are listed for the men's 400m hurdles, while Kaliese Spencer and Melaine Walker will clash in the women's equivalent.

Strides

Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Del-loreen Ennis-London, Lacena Golding-Clarke and Vonette Dixon will match strides in the 100m hurdles while Kenia Sinclair and Hazel Clarke of U.S. will battle it out in the 800m.

Chairman of the organising committee and president of the JAAA Howard Aris sai they were working off a smaller budget (US$550,000 to US$600,000) than last year, the cost to the bleachers would be reduced.

The price will drop from $500 to $200, he said, to allow athletes coming out of Champs to afford to see top-class athletes.

It will cost $2,000 for a finish-lineseat, $1,500 for middle grandstand and $1,000 for seats close to the 100m start.