Shelly returns! – Star athletes on show at Queen’s Grace Jackson meet today
AS has become customary over the last few years, leading stars from the MVP Track and Field Club will open their seasonal campaign at today’s Queen’s/Grace Jackson meet to be held at the almost year-old Usain Bolt track at the University of the West Indies (UWI) starting at 8:30 am.
Reigning World and Olympic 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who only recently completed a six-month ban imposed by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after testing positive for the prohibited substance Oxycodone at an athletics meeting in Shanghai, China on May 23, opens her season in the women’s 400m Invitational at 2:30 pm.
Olympic 100m silver medallist Sherone Simpson is also down for action in the women’s 400m.
Former world record holder Asafa Powell will open in the men’s 400m Invitational at 2:40 pm, with his teammates and fellow Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Michael Frater.
Markino Buckley and Daniel Bailey of the UWI-based Racer’s Track Club will also be running in that event.
World and Olympic 400-metre hurdles winner Melaine Walker, silver medallist Shericka Williams, and last year’s Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer are all down for action in the women’s 800m event.
World Championships bronze medallist Shereefa Lloyd, who has been with the Racer’s Track since late last year, as well as Davita Prendergast are also expected to compete today.
Meanwhile, over 2,000 athletes from 90 schools, including Kingston College, Calabar, and Wolmer’s will be in action on the synthetic surface this afternoon.
Other events on the programme include the 200 metres for girls in all classes and for Class One, Two, and Three boys, as well as Male and Female 200m Open; men’s Open 1,500m and 1,500 for Class One and Two Boys; Male and female 4x400m Open; shot put; high jump; long jump, and triple jump.
In this the 10th year of the meet, organisers will be giving away 10 scholarships to outstanding students from The Queen’s School and one to the top athletes from the all girls institution, while the top male and female students will earn special awards.
In addition, the school’s track and field programme will also receive a donation of equipment, including batons and starting blocks.
