Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

A sprint challenge between the world's two power-houses, Jamaica and the United States, could take place later this year.

The Americans issued a challenge to Jamaica in a letter delivered to Teddy McCook, president of the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Track and Field Association, in Florida yesterday.

In confirming the challenge, president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), Howard Aris, said yesterday that the local association would be interested, given the right conditions.

Aris said McCook contacted him about USA Track and Field's (USATF) proposal of a possible Sprint Challenge.

"We are interested in anything to further the development of track and field in Jamaica. However, we need to be clear of what are the implications.

"I told him (McCook) until the USA Track and Field writes to the JAAA, indicating the events, the time of year, whether it's in the United States or Jamaica, for how long, and the sponsorship arrangement, we cannot give any official response, other than we have an interest."

News broke yesterday that USATF proposed that the world's two sprinting powerhouses face each other in a unique, dual-meet format that could see some of track and field's superstars match up like never before.

The USATF is proposing a series in 2009 that that will pit the two nations' sprinters and hurdlers against each other in head-to-head, team-scored competition.

In Beijing, Jamaica, led by Usain Bolt, who collected the sprint double in world record times of 9.69 (100m) and 19.30 (200m); Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.76) and Veronica Campbell-Brown (21.74) for the women's 100m and 200m, respectively, won all the short sprints.

Jamaica also had a world record run of 37.10 seconds in the men's 4x100m.

Not ready to give up control

Douglas G. Logan, general secretary and chief executive officer at US Track and Field, who said he was in Beijing to witness Jamaica's dominance over his country in the sprints, told McCook in his invitation letter that they were not ready to give up control to the Jamaicans.

" ... Our sprinters are not ready to concede Jamaican dominance. Let us not forget that less than two years ago, it was the United States on top of three of the four short sprints and both sprint relays at the 2007 World Championships," his letter stated.

The meets would feature male and female athletes in the 100, 200 and 400 metres; 100/110m hurdles and 400m hurdles; long jump; and the 4x100, 4x400 and sprint medley relays.

The proposal is that one competition would be in the United States, with the other taking place on Jamaican soil between May and June this year.