Jacqueline Jackson (left), consumer marketing executive of the main sponsor, GlaxoSmithKline, distributors of Lucozade Sport, hands over her company's cheque to chairman of the organising committee, Ventley Brown, at yesterday's launch, held at G.C. Foster College Angels, Spanish Town. - photo by Anthony Foster

Usain Bolt, the Beijing Olympic Games sprint star, will run his first official 100m race this season at the Lucozade/G.C. Foster College Classics on March 14.

Chairperson for the organising committee, Ventley Brown, announced at yesterday's launch at the school in Angels, Spanish Town, that Bolt, who set the 100 and 200 metres world records of 9.69 and 19.30 seconds, respectively, in Beijing last summer, has been confirmed to run the marquee sprint event at the meet.

"Bolt has confirmed to run the 100m, along with Yohan Blake," Brown said, adding that Ricardo Chambers, a semi-finalist in the 400m at the Olympics, is down to participate in the one-lap event.

At last year's meet, Bolt ran what had been up until then his personal best, 10.03 seconds. He went on to run 9.76 at the Jamaica International Invitational, then 9.72 for his first world record at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, also in May.

Meanwhile, the meet, which also has sponsors Wisynco Distributors, Kraft Foods, Guardian Life, Toyota Jamaica, Task Force Security, Adidas and Sports Development Foundation, will serve as the last meet to quality for Champs.

Day's activities

Competition will take place in the 200m, 400m, 800m, all the hurdles, high, long and triple jumps, discus and shot put. The steeplechase for men and women, a first for a local meet, will also be part of the day's activities, which will conclude with the Milo Grand Prix Series.

Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) President Howard Aris endorsed the event.

Aris said with Champs and the first international meet, the Jamaica Invitational, set for April 1-4 and May 2, respectively, this meet is strategically placed on the calendar.

"It also provides an opportunity for the athletes to come and measure where they are in their programme," he said.

Jacqueline Jackson, consumer marketing executive of the main sponsors, GlaxoSmithKline, distributors of Lucozade Sport, said her company is pleased to be contributing to the meet.

Entries close on March 10 and it was announced that no late entries will be accepted.