Walker to open season at Queen's meet

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker is set to open her 2012 season at this year's 11th staging of The Queen's Grace Jackson track and field meet which will be held at the National Stadium on Saturday, January 28.

However, Walker, who won the silver medal at last year's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, will compete in the 800m. Walker said she will be using the race to assess her fitness level.

"It is fairly early in the season and usually at this time we only compete in the 800m," said Walker. "It is not something that I love, but at the same time it is part of practice and it is a part of becoming who you are, so I am looking forward to it."

Apart from Walker, her MVP teammates, Olympic 100m winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist Michael Frater, and World University Games 100m champion Carrie Russell are also down for their season-opener.

Russell, who has a personal best of 11.05 seconds in the 100m, is down to compete in the 400m. The former St Thomas Technical star is looking forward to having a very productive season this year.

"I am injury-free and I am a bit stronger than last year," said Russell. "My main goal is to make the Olympic team and to perform well and to make my country proud, and so I am working hard towards that," Russell added.

Olive McNaughton, chairperson of the organising committee, said she expected more athletes from the MVP track club, as well as Racers Club pair of Shereefa Lloyd and Allodin Fothergill to compete in the meet.

"We can expect a very exciting meet," said McNaughton, during yesterday's launch held on The Queen's School compound at 4 Central Avenue, St Andrew.

Full support

Natalie Neita-Headley, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, said Govern-ment is in full support of the meet.

"I am very happy that they were able to get it on board this year," said Neita-Headley. She added that "events like these are going to be critical to the development of the sport".

More than 2,000 athletes from across the island are expected for the meet. Events down to be contested in both the male and female categories are 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x400m, medley relay, triple jump, long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin and discus.