World watching Bolt, Powell at Jamaica Nationals
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The men’s 100-metre final at this weekend’s Jamaica National Athletics Championships is set to draw the attention of the track & field world. Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man at 9.72 seconds, and Asafa Powell, the former world 100-metre record holder at 9.74 seconds, will battle for the right to be called national 100 metres champion. Both sprinters have seven of the fastest times ever produced in the history of the event, Bolt (9.72, 9.76) and Powell (9.74, 9.77 three times and 9.78).
The race is expected to be so close that Powell, who won bronze at the World Championships last year, conceded: “I don’t know who’s going to win.” He said, however, that his aim was to make the team to the Beijing Olympic and he would take it from there.
“I just want to make the team, that’s all I want to do … that’s all I am going there to do, make the team,” he said, adding that he would not be coming out to put on any show.
Bolt, the latest 100 metres sensation, echoed similar comments playing down the much publicised clash.
“Asafa and I will just be going out there to make the team to Beijing. I don’t think we are going out there to prove anything,” Bolt stressed.
While Bolt and Powell will battle for the top spot, the race for third spot looms between Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Julian Dunkley, Clement Campbell, Dwight Thomas and Steve Mullings, all of whom are in line to break 10 seconds this season.
The women’s 100 metres and 200 metres, along with the women’s 400 metres, will be the other hot events on the card.
Veronica Campbell-Brown, based on this season’s form, is favoured to prevail over Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, and Simone Facey in the 100 metres while it should be the same in the women’s 200 metres.
Sherri-Ann Brooks, Shelly Ann Frazer and Schillonie Calvert should fight for the lower places in both sprints.
In the women’s 400 metres, which pits Shericka Williams slightly ahead of Novlene Williams-Mills, is full of depth.
Kaliese Spencer, Moya Thompson or Shereefa Lloyd could also spoil the party, while Davita Prendergast, Sonita Sutherland, Rose-Marie White and the focused Anastasia Le-Roy, who was a part of Jamaica’s silver medal 4×400 metres team in Osaka last year, should fight for their places in the top six.
The other big event on the programme is the women’s 100 metres hurdles, with World Championship medallists Delloreen Ennis-London and Brigitte Foster-Hylton the favourites, ahead of Vonette Dixon, who is in line for her first Olympic Games trip.
