AFTER nine weeks into the new year of the indoor track and field season, Nesta Carter, one of only eight Jamaicans to run 10 seconds in the 100m, has become the country’s fourth fastest man over 60 metres.

The 24-year-old athlete ran a personal best 6.54 seconds at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham, England, last weekend. His time is bettered only by Michael Green (6.49), Donovan Powell (6.50) and Raymond Stewart (6.52).

A key member of Jamaica’s 2008 world record-breaking Olympic 4x100m relay champion team, Carter holds the fourth best time in the world this year, along with Daniel Bailey, who claimed another Antiguan record.

Lerone Clarke trails Carter by one hundredth of a second with a personal best 6.55 seconds achieved in Leipzig, Germany, on February 13, with compatriot Ryan Shields on his heels in a personal best 6.58.

In the quarter-mile, Allodin Fothergill, completing a three-month ban for 4-methyl 2-hexanamine, has returned this season with personal bests in the 500m (1:01.74) and the 400m (46.52). Edino Steele has been in remarkable form with personal bests in the 600 yard (1:11.30), 200m (21.47), and 400m (46.54).

Underachiever Ricardo Chambers, yet to show any sign of his 2007 form, placed fourth at the Aviva Grand Prix in 46.68secs, but only time will tell if he will get any better in the next couple of months.

Having secured the national record in the 110m hurdles last season, Dwight Thomas’ return to sprint hurdles has paid dividends and with few more races in the 60m hurdles this season, may well challenge Maurice Wignall’s Jamaica record of 7.48 seconds set in 2004.

Thomas has a personal best 7.59 seconds timed in 2004 and given his new lease on life on the track, after the switch from the 100m which has become extremely competitive, Jamaica will soon have a world presence in this event again.

In the long jump, Alain Bailey has broken through as Jamaica’s new prince. However, unlike James Beckford, who ruled absolutely, the 21-year-old Bailey, who recorded a personal best 7.99m indoors, will invariably have to

watch his back against Nicholas Gordon and Tarik Batchelor.

Julian Reid has preferred the triple jump, with Wilbert Walker dogging him.

Kimberly Smith, aged 21, has dished out a strong presence in the 55m and 60m, registering personal bests of 6.80 and 7.23 respectively.

The National Association of Inter-collegiate Athletics (NAIA) double sprint champion, under proper guidance, could be another Jamaican sprinter to watch on the world stage.

Finally, multi-eventer Peaches Roach has posted personal bests in the 60m, 60m hurdles, and shot put and should improve on the national pentathlon record of 4,131 set on January 29.