STAR athletes from leading Jamaican-based track clubs MVP and Racers are expected to be on show at the third staging of the University of Technology (UTech) Track and Field Classic at the National Stadium on April 17.

At yesterday’s press conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel, meet manager Paul Francis revealed that do date, Racers have already entered 21 athletes, while MVP, which is coached by his brother Stephen, have submitted dozens.

“Based on the entries we have so far we have all the reason to feel extremely excited. So far (this season) we have not gotten to see MVP and Racers in the same meet and we’ll have them coming in full force and competing with each other,” he said.

World and Olympic 100-metre record-holder Usain Bolt is not among those confirmed to compete, but track lovers can look forward to seeing other members of that club in action.

Racers also have the likes of Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Jermaine Gonzales and Antiguan Daniel Bailey within their ranks.

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell of MVP has been entered in the 200 metre event, while clubmates and Olympic gold medallists Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, along with former youth sensation Darrel Brown of Trinidad, are down to contest the 100 metres.

Sprint hurdler Brigitte Foster- Hylton, still riding high after a stellar 2009 season, will square-off with Sherone Simpson in the 100-metre flat, while World and Olympic 100 metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser and World and Olympic 400 metre silver medal winner Shericka Williams will participate in the 200.

Another World and Olympic champion, hurdler Melaine Walker, should also compete when she laces up in the 400m flat.

Francis added that over 250 athletes have already been entered in events ranging from the sprints to the 1500 metre races. The shot put and long jump will also be contested at the Classic, which is scheduled to run for four hours, starting from 4:00 pm.

This year’s meet should see international competitors from the Manuel Fajardo University in Cuba, North Eastern University and Roxborough Community College in the Unites States, University of Puerto Rico and individual athletes from Sweden and the Netherlands.

Said Francis: “We will have college competitions and the invitational competitions and in a lot of instances they will also be (combined) together… so I’m looking forward to it.”

Aside from those match-ups, the Classic will also see a Preparatory versus Primary School matchup as well as High Schools and Disabled contests.

Francis, who survived a horrific motor vehicle accident earlier this year, said the meet would assist schools in preparing for the upcoming Penn Relay Carinval in the USA.

“The UTech Classic will continue to give high schools the very best chance to put their best teams forward and this is right ahead the Penn Relays. It doesn’t matter if your best four (runners) include a 13-year-old who has all the youth records in the world,” he said, noting that age would not affect a runner’s participation in a relay team.

Meanwhile, Francis told the Observer that the Classic is strategically staged at this time of the year to allow athletes the opportunity to announce their readiness for the Grand Prix circuit.

“The new structure of the world racing scene, which is featured behind the Diamond League, starts competition from as early as May.

“(Therefore) this time of the year is extremely important for athletes to position themselves to get excellent times on the track so that they can get into the prime races for this season. The UTech Classic is providing that for them so we’ll have fantastic competition and I’m very excited,” he said.