Track takes over

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Sprinters ready to excite, Sinclair in injury concern

LONDON, England:

The London Olympic Stadium will see its first action since the Opening Ceremony as speedsters Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart are expected to light up the Olympic Games with early 100m action.

Kenia Sinclair, who was scheduled to take part in the 800m, faces a race for fitness, while Dorian Scott will look to seal his comeback to the Jamaican team with a spot in the shot put final as 14 Jamaicans jump into action on the opening day of athletics competition at the Olympic Games.

Sinclair, a finalist at the Beijing Olympic Games, has been battling a knee injury for some time and faces a real test ahead of the August 8 start of the 800m heats.

Technical leader of Jamaica's track-and-field team Donald Quarrie confirmed Sinclair's concerns but underlined that the squad remains in high spirits as they anxiously await their turn to spring into action.

"Everyone who is competing tomorrow (today) is fit and ready," Quarrie told The Gleaner. They are all excited about finally getting started and I guess everyone is just anxious and can't wait to get out on the track."

He added: "Kenia Sinclair has been having some knee issues, other than that I do not know of anybody else who is having any problems. She will be taking it day by day."

London will, however, be transformed into speed central as defending Olympic champion and the fastest woman in the world this year, Fraser-Pryce, will lead the strong Jamaican trio completed by Campbell-Brown and Beijing silver medalist Stewart in the heats of the 100m.

National champion Leford Green, Josef Robertson and Roxroy Cato will carry Jamaica's hopes against a tough 400m hurdles bunch while Novlene Williams-Mills, who has impressed all season long with several sub-50 clockings and is expected to challenge for a medal in the 400m will have to first successfully navigate the heats along with countrywomen Rosemarie Whyte and first-time Olympian Christine Day.

Kimberly Williams has looked good all year in the triple jump, sealing a number of impressive finishes on the European circuit, particularly the 14.52m done in Rome. The 23-year-old will be looking to take that energy into triple jump qualifying with former world champion Trecia Smith also expected to push for a spot in Sunday's final.

Damar Forbes is desperate to replace James Beckford as Jamaica's best long jumper and will also be in qualifying action tomorrow along with women's discus entrant Allison Randall.

Scott, who withdrew from Jamaica's IAAF World Championships team in Daegu, South Korea, last year to take up a coaching opportunity at San Diego State University, is said to be training well and will be hoping to make his first shot put final at a major international outdoor championship.

Scott, who comes in with a best this year of 20.72m, done at the Olympic Trials in Kingston, is some way off the top, and will find things difficult here in London, unless he can improve on his season mark and get closer to his 21.45m personal best, which was achieved in 2008.

andre.lowe@gleanerjm.com

Afternoon session

August 4

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Afternoon session