PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

Jamaica's former world 100-metre record holder Asafa Powell is set to compete at Trinidad and Tobago's SAGICOR Open Track and Field Championship later this month, organisers have announced.

Boost the field

Powell will boost an already strong 100-metre field for the June 20-22 meet that includes T&T's 2003 World Championship silver medallist Darrel Brown and rising star Richard Thompson, who is the world's third fastest man this year - behind new world record holder Usain Bolt (9.72) and Tyson Gay (9.85) - with his clocking of 9.93 seconds in Auburn, United States, last month.

Thompson, a Louisiana State University standout, won the US Collegiate (NCAA) Indoor 60-metre title in March and is a favourite for the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA) outdoor title in Iowa next week.

That men's 100-metre field will also include Marc Burns, Aaron Armstrong and Keston Bledman.

"I personally think that this will be one of the best championships we have seen so far," said T&T's NAAA public relations officer Peter Samuel, during a press conference, Wednesday, to launch the meet. "Powell's presence will give our runners the incentive to run harder. I would not rule out at least two of our runners recording sub-ten times."

The meet will be the first for Powell since a chest injury sidelined him in April and set back his Olympic preparation.