Sport

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

It's all systems go for what is expected to be a carnival of top-class track and field excitement, as the seventh staging of the JN Jamaica International Invitational gets under way later this evening at the National Stadium.

A pre-meet show with live performances from a number of artistes, including Freddie McGregor, I-Octane, Laden, Konshens, Alison Hinds and Chino, will mark the start of activities at 4 p.m., with action on the track set to begin at 7 p.m.

Carmelita Jeter's 100m clash with Jamaican powerhouse Kerron Stewart is one of the biggest clashes of the meet that will also boast the likes of the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, multiple Olympic and World Championship medallist, Veronica Campbell-Brown, former World Championship double gold medallist, Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon, Bianca Knight, Christian Cantwell, Kerron Clement and Trinidadian Richard Thompson.

biggest attraction

Double world record-holder, Bolt, the biggest attraction in track and field, will face close friend Wallace Spearmon in one of the most eagerly anticipated races, the men's 200m, while American Darvis Patton will test the Jamaican trio of Yohan Blake, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter in the 100m.

Gay is scheduled to feature in the 400m, while Campbell-Brown will contest the 200m.

Meet director and Jamaican track great, Donald Quarrie, is confident that everything is in place for the highly anticipated meet and is determined to see the high levels on which the meet was built continue.

Quarrie was also quick to note that the meet has managed to attract the world's biggest stars over the years and reasoned that its timing on the athletic calendar affords it a huge advantage over other meets across the globe.

"Everything is ready now, all the athletes are here and we are anticipating good competition tomorrow (today)," said Quarrie.

"We started out at a high level and what is good is that we have been able to maintain that level and we are now seeing the emergence of World and Olympic champions at our meet," continued Quarrie.

"The fact that we are early in the season is a good advantage for us because we can showcase people who have competed the previous year and got medals, or highlight some of the new stars," Quarrie reasoned.

"It's good that we are attracting top-class athletes here. We've always wanted to get the best athletes to perform here and we are going to try to maintain that, not only in the sprints and on-track events, but others. The shot put event was one of the best events last year so that was a positive thing for our meet," he added.

tickets moving quickly

The organiser went on to promise an exciting meet for the throngs of spectators and noted that tickets have been moving quickly, with those for the grandstand section sold out.

"The 100-metre races are going to be dynamic, also the 200m will be one of the highlighted events that everyone will be looking forward to," Quarrie said. "I think the competitiveness in the other events will keep the crowd alive and that is important. We want to get the crowd involved.

"We are very pleased with the reaction that we have been getting from the public so far. It's a very good thing for us that the grandstand tickets are all sold out and we are hoping to get a lot of bleachers tickets sold as well," said Quarrie.