BY PAUL A REID

Observer writer

NEW YORK, USA — There will be an air of expectation today when global sprint superstar Usain Bolt returns to the track at the Icahn Stadium for the first time since he set his first World Record 9.72 seconds in the 100m seven years ago in 2008.

Today, Bolt will take on a quality field in the men’s 200m at the adidas Grand Prix, the sixth stop on the IAAF Diamond League circuit and a sold-out crowd should be on hand, expecting yet another superstar performance.

Bolt, who is expected to deliver a standout performance ahead of the IAAF World Championships, has been characteristically overshadowed in the men’s sprint for the first time in nearly a decade of dominance by Justin Gatlin, who has run a series of fast times in both the 100m and 200m events.

At least 20 Jamaican athletes and dozens more from the region are down to take part in what the organisers are calling a “Caribbean invasion”.

At yesterday’s press conference at the Grand Hyatt in New York, Bolt admitted he was not in the best form, but said things were getting better with three months still to go before the World Championships.

“I am not where I want to be,” he said, “but we are working hard and things are coming together in training; I am feeling better every day, all I want to do is get more races and just go out and execute.”

A big, loud Caribbean crowd today would be good, said the sprint star. “The crowd will be very important and I always appreciate it. New York is like a second home to me and I know its going to be loud and that’s important for me and yes, I am looking forward to it,” he said.

At least five world leaders will take part in the event that promises quality performances, not just on the track, but in the field as well. Cuban triple jumper Pablo Pedro Pichardo, who has gone over 18.00m twice this year, American shot putter Joe Kovacs and female long jumper Tianna Bartoletta as well as men’s 800m world record holder David Rudisha are expected to bring their own brands of fireworks to the meet.

The men’s 200m will have a decidedly Jamaican feel with up-and-coming sprinters Rasheed Dwyer and Julian Forte, as well as Jamaica-based Zharnel Hughes of Anguilla and American Terrell Cotton both of whom train at the Racers TC, lining up for the big clash.

Forte, who is coming off mixed performances in Europe, told the Jamaica Observer he is just hoping to execute well today.

“I am good, working on specific things in practice and just hope to execute (today) and the results will come,” he said.

World Championships bronze medal winner Nesta Carter, who won the 100m last year, will go up against American Tyson Gay, who ran 9.88 seconds in his first 100m this season, will start favourite today.

Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole will also line up, so too Trinidad’s Keston Bledman and Trell Kimmonds from the USA.

In the women’s 400m, Stephenie-Ann McPherson will renew rivalry with American Diamond League leader Francena McCorory, who leads her by a single point in the Diamond Race.

McPherson is coming off a win in Birmingham on Sunday and will be joined by compatriots Novelene Williams-Mills, Christine Day and Anastacia Leroy, while Americans Natasha Hastings and Dee Dee Trotter as well as Shaunae Miller of The Bahamas and Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu will also compete.

World Championships relay medallists Schillonie Calvert and Samantha Henry-Robinson, who ran 10.99 seconds earlier, will carry the Jamaican flag in the women’s 100m, but they face English Gardner who ran a personal best 10.84 seconds in Eugene, Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste who ran 10.98 seconds and American Tianna Bartoletta.

Sherone Simpson is the only Jamaican in the women’s 200m where she will face Bahamas’ Anthonique Strachan, American Tori Bowe, who comes in with 22.29 seconds, and Commonwealth Games champion Blessing Okagbare-Ighotegounor of Nigeria.

Roxroy Cato was a late addition to the men’s 400m hurdles, replacing Bershawn Jackson and will join Annsert Whyte as they go up against Trinidad’s World Championships gold medal winner Jehue Gordon, South Africa’s LJ Van Zyl and Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson.

Commonwealth Games champion O’Dayne Richards has been making steady progress in the shot put and could surpass his season’s best of 21.00m as he goes up against world leader Joe Kovacs who has twice gone over 22.00m.

Danielle Williams — who is the fastest Jamaican in the 100m hurdles so far with 12.77 seconds, followed closely by her sister Shermaine Williams (12.87 seconds) — has American Sharika Nelvis, who ran a personal best 12.54 seconds in the last two weeks and veteran Lolo Jones to contend with.