All set for tomorrow's Jamaica Invitational
Published:Thursday | May 7, 2015 | 12:00 AMMarc Stamp
President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Dr Warren Blake, says all is in place for a successful staging of the Jamaica International Invitational track meet at the National Stadium tomorrow.
"Everything is in place. We are ready for another successful staging in our 12th year of staging the meet," Dr Blake told The Gleaner yesterday.
"The competitors started coming in from yesterday (Wednesday), and everyone should be here by tomorrow (today)," he added.
Dr Blake said the meet has done better than some Diamond League events.
"We regularly are ranked above some Diamond League meets.
Again, we expect another highly competitive meet with many top athletes coming," Dr Blake pointed out.
American sprinters Ryan Bailey and Tyson Gay are among some top athletes expected to line up in the glamour 100m race. Both athletes were members of the American sprint relay team that stunned Jamaica in the event at the second World Relays in The Bahamas last weekend.
Gay was added to the line-up last month, replacing compatriot Justin Gatlin, who was forced to withdraw due to other commitments. Gatlin was earlier announced to compete in the 100m.
Gay is expected to face fellow Americans Bailey and Walter Dix in the event, with Jamaicans Nesta Carter and Nickel Ashmeade also in the line-up.
The last time Gay appeared at the meet two years ago, he won the 100m in 9.86 seconds.
Other top athletes down for the meet are Jamaica's Olympic gold medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Commonwealth 400-metre hurdles champion Kaliese Spencer; and American stars Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory, and Jamaica-born Sanya Richards-Ross. McCorory and Richards-Ross are already here.
Tickets have been on sale since Wednesday and cost $4,500 for the finish area; $3,000 for Category A in the grandstand; $1,500 for Category B; and $500 for bleachers. The outlets include National Stadium, The Jamaica Pegasus, York Pharmacy and Training Camp (Manor Park).
Gates will be open at 2 p.m. tomorrow.