Bolt, Blake set to light up Zurich

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

The world will once again stand still for a few seconds as the Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake show rolls into the Swiss city of Zurich later today, as the lucrative IAAF Diamond League series makes it penultimate stop.

Bolt and Blake have provided a 'one-two' punch of sprinting headline dominance over the past few months, from the younger Blake's surprise wins at the Jamaican Olympic trials in late June to Bolt's repeat success in the 100-200m at the London Olympic Games a few weeks ago.

The pair was at it again days ago in Lausanne when Bolt won the 200m in 19.58 and his younger training partner became the second-fastest man in history, racing to 9.69 in the 100m, to join Bolt and American Tyson Gay as the only three to have posted that time.

Bolt, who will be running his last 200m of the season here, will be looking to make a statement, and following a reserved 19.32 (season best) en route to winning gold in London due to an aching back coming off the turn, a fresher Bolt could very well close the 2012 book on the 200m with the fastest half-lap time posted this season.

He will have a few familiar faces for company with London bronze medallist Warren Weir looking to bounce back from a rough outing in Lausanne, where he finished fifth with 20.03.

Also entered is Jason Young, another Glen Mills product, who has gone 19.86 this season, making him the fifth-fastest man this year in the 200m, along with Nickel Ashmeade.

Blake the favourite

Blake, the 100m World champion and 100m and 200m Olympic silver medallist, is the favourite in what will be a hot 100m, featuring countrymen Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, Olympic finalists Gay, Ryan Bailey and Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre.

Two-time 100m Olympic champion and 200m silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is on the verge of her first Diamond coup and will be out to exact revenge on silver medallist and World champion Carmelita Jeter, as that rivalry continues in earnest. Kerron Stewart, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Allyson Felix will all be looking to play spoilers.

Leford Green joins five other Olympic finalists in the men's 400m hurdles where bronze medallist and diamond winner Javier Culson will be looking to restore his dominance against Olympic champion Felix Sanchez and silver medallist Michael Tinsley.

Rosemarie Whyte will face a tough field in the women's 400m with London gold medallist Sanya Richards-Ross, Christine Ohuruogu and DeeDee Trotter, along with Francena McCorory expected to dominate here.

Kemar Bailey-Cole and Mario Forsythe will compete in the 100m pre-programme race, while Aleen Bailey is the fastest in the women's 200m equivalent.

Schedule of Jamaican athletes

W 200m National (12:05 p.m.)

Aleen Bailey

M 100m pre-programme (12:40 p.m.)

Kemar Bailey Cole

Mario Forsythe

M 400m Hurdles (1:05 p.m.)

Leford Green

W 100m (1:15 p.m.)

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Kerron Stewart

M 100m (1:50 p.m.)

Yohan Blake

Michael Frater

Nesta Carter

W 400m (1:55 p.m.)

Rosemarie Whyte

M 200m (2:15 p.m.)

Usain Bolt

Warren Weir

Jason Young

Nickel Ashmeade