Track & Field - News

JAMAICAN sprint sensation Asafa Powell is among the big names expected to take the stage at the June 20-22 Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

At yesterday's launch, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, games committee chairman Allan Baboolal announced that both Powell and his fellow-Jamaican, sprint hurdler Brigette Foster-Hylton will be on show at the three-day meet.

"He is expected to compete at the Championships, and we are very happy for that," Baboolal told the media, yesterday.

Powell, the second fastest man in history at 9.74 seconds, and his training partner, Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown will take part in a development seminar conducted by their coach, Stephen Francis on June 19, at the Stadium's VIP Lounge. This clinic will be the first in a series of workshops and sprint seminars in T&T.

Sagicor's sponsorship of the Championships is valued at $100,000. Another $500,000 has been contributed by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.

The men's 100 metres dash will be a high-quality event, featuring Brown, Marc Burns, Aaron Armstrong and Richard Thompson--who recently dived under ten seconds twice, clocking 9.97 and 9.93.

Shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown is expected to grace the Championships, along with some of her international rivals.

Both the Sagicor-sponsored meet and July's Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships are mandatory for athletes hoping to represent T&T at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Candice Scott is the lone exception. She has been exempted from the Championships because of an absence of proper hammer throw facilities here in T&T.

Some US-based African runners have been invited to participate in the 10,000m and the 3,000m steeplechase. Both events are being reintroduced to the meet this year. Athletes from Grenada, Antigua, Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Guyana are also expected to compete at the Championships.

Brand new photo finish and starting equipment will be used at the Championships. Two independent timing systems will be employed, and doping control measures will be in effect.

The Junior Championships are being held in Tobago on June 14 and 15. Only athletes placing in the top eight at this meet will be eligible to compete at the Sagicor Open.

NAAA president Ephraim Serrette thanked Express sports journalist Kwame Laurence for his extensive coverage of T&T's college athletes competing in the United States.

"I'm very happy," Serrette told the media, "with the preparations of some of our college athletes," including sprinters Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Thompson, and 400 metres runner Renny Quow.

Soca stars, Shurwayne Winchester and Maximus Dan are expected to perform at the Open Championships.