News18 Apr 2007


World Athletes of the Year confirmed for Kingston

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Asafa Powell (JAM) goes for strength training with 400m outing in Kingston (© Anthony Foster)

World 100m record holder Asafa Powell and World Championships 400m silver medallist Sanya Richards head a list of stars confirmed for the third annual Jamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium on 5 May 2007.

The meeting is an NACAC Permit event, one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be earned for qualification to the IAAF World Athletics Final.
 
In announcing the list of athletes, meet director Donald Quarrie, the 1976 Olympic champion, said the 2006 World Athletes of the Year were happy to open up their season in Jamaica.

Powell, who ran 12 sub-10 second times last season, which included 9.95 to win at this same meet, will again try to repeat as he sharpens up for the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

He will be challenged by training partners Michael Frater and Trinidadian Darrell Brown, silver medallists from the 2005 and 2003 World Championships respectively. Dwight Thomas is also down for the event.

Richards, who closed last season with an impressive 48.70 seconds 400m run, the fastest time over the one lap event since Katty Freeman ran 48.63 in 1996, is down to face Jamaicans Novlene Williams and Shericka Williams, and Bahamian Christine Amertil.

The men's 400m field could be considered especially hot as Americans LaShawn Merritt and Andrew Rock will face-off with Jamaicans Usain Bolt, Germaine Gonzales and Lansford Spence.

United States' Tyson Gay will run the men's 200m, while Sherone Simpson will line-up in the women's equivalent.

Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell and Bahamian Debbie Ferguson are down for the women's 100m.

Jamaicans Danny McFarlane and Dean Griffith, along with Kerron Clement of United States are listed for the men's 400m Hurdles while Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, Lacena Golding-Clarke and Vonette Dixon will match strides in the 100m Hurdles.

Anthony Foster for the IAAF

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