McFarlane .. will want to stamp his class over main rivals in the 400m hurdles. - FILE
WORLD 100 METRES record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 200 metres gold medallist Veronica Campbell will be the feature attractions at the three-day Supreme Ventures National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships which open at the National Stadium today.
The outstanding duo are just two of the world stars who will be on show at what should be a high-quality meet which gets under way at 4:00 p.m.
Sharing the spotlight will be Athens sprint relay gold medallists Sherone Simpson, Tayna Lawrence, Aleen Bailey and Beverly McDonald, 400m hurdles silver medallist Danny McFarlane and 4x400m bronze medallists Novlene Williams, Nadia Davy, Michelle Burgher, Sandie Richards and Ronetta Smith.
SEEKING BIG PRIZE
In addition to the medallists, nine Olympic finalists will be seeking the big prize, a place on the national team to the 10th World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, from August 6-14.
The finalists include field event competitors, long jumper James Beckford and Trecia Smith, who were fourth in Athens, 100m hurdler Lacena Golding-Clarke (fifth) and 400m runners Brandon Simpson, Davian Clarke and Michael Blackwood who placed fitth, sixth and eighth respectively.
Junior athletes will also be hunting berths on a national team to a major age-group meet, the fourth IAAF World Youth Championships set for July 13-17 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Top events on the opening day are the men's 200m, 400m hurdles and 100m heats.
A rejuvenated Usain Bolt and 2001 world 200m silver medallist Chris Williams are the leading lights in the half-lap event.
Bolt, who disappointed at the Athens Olympics, has clocked three fast times over the distance this season including an impressive 20.14 at the May 7 Jamaica International Invitational meet and will prove too strong for Williams.
MCFARLANE'S TIME
McFarlane who has had a fairly low-key start to the season will want to stamp his class over main rivals Ian Weakley, Kemel Thompson and Dean Griffith.
The Olympic silver medallist has been suffering from a slight injury and has a best time of 48.91 this season. He is, however, a big occasion performer and should easily get to tomorrow's final.
Weakley, who missed out on an Olympic spot at last year's 'trials', is the number one-ranked Jamaican this season with a best time of 48.58. He is in his best form in two years and will have a battle royal with McFarlane for the top spot in tomorrow's final.
ROLL OVER RIVALS
Powell, for whom running under 10 seconds over 100m has now become a habit, should easily roll over his rivals in today's heats and tomorrow's semis and final.
The form of Michael Frater, Dwight Thomas and Patrick Jarrett, all of whom have personal best times above 10 seconds, will be closely watched as two of the three are hunting the remaining individual spots for the 100m.
Campbell will not be seen in action until tomorrow as the women's 100m will go straight to the semi-final stage at 4:30 p.m.
An interesting final, the women's 3000m steeple chase, is down to be contested at 6:00 p.m. Korine Hinds and Mardrea Hyman are the island's top two in this event.
Both have been doing well on the grand prix circuit and have already run below the 'A' standard qualifying time (9:50.0) for the event.
