Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Manchester High's Leslie-Ann Mitchell (right) on her way to victory ahead of Peta-Gay Beckford of Vere Technical (15.75) in heat two of the Girls' Class Two 100m hurdles at the annual Pepsi/JC invitational meet at Jamica College last Saturday. Mitchell who won her heat in 14.70, finished second overall in the time final event behind Holmwood's Sashawna Bennett (14.65). - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Olympians Ato Boldon and Torri Edwards, along with Sunshine Girl Simone Forbes, will be special guests at this weekend's Douglas Forrest Invitational track and field meet at the National Stadium East Complex.

Forbes was part of Jamaica's bronze medal-winning netball World Championships team in New Zealand last year.

As in previous years, the organising committee, headed by Brian Smith, has opted for overseas athletes, past and present, to visit and interact with the youngsters.

Boldon, who won silver and bronze medals for Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympics, and Edwards, a World Championships gold medallist, are expected in the island tomorrow and Thursday, respectively.

Smith said his committee decided to select Boldon, Edwards and Forbes as guest athletes because youngsters will get a chance to interact with them.

"We believe if we can bring these people here to Jamaica and they can interact with them, they just might learn a thing or two. That is why we are going for them," said Smith.

The meet will also attract five overseas teams - Star Trackers and Road Runners clubs from The Bahamas will carry 25 and 18 athletes, respectively, while 15 are down to come from Cayman Islands, 12 from Turks and Caicos Islands and 10 each from Miami Dade County in Florida and Curaçao.

The events to be contested this year are 200m, 400m, 800m, 3,000m, 5,000m, relays, shot put and all jumps (high, long and triple).

Last year, more than 2500 athletes took apart and, according to Smith, more are expected this time around. He also promised that the "meet will run efficiently as usual.

"I think we will be able to manage it better because we are going to eliminate some of the events that gave us problems last year. The hurdles, in particular, took over two hours last year and we are going to cut that out," he added.

Regarding the 200m, he said: "We know it's going to be long, maybe two to three hours, so we are going to have an efficient staff working there."

All the top local schools - Calabar, St. Jago, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Herbert Morrison, St. Andrew High, Immaculate, Wolmer's and Queen's - are expected to compete.