ALL eyes will be fixed on six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt as he lines up in the 100m at the two-day London Diamond League meet which starts today. Bolt will return to the scene of his 2012 triple Olympic triumph at the meet dubbed the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.

It will be an important indicator of his readiness for the World Championships in Beijing next month. Bolt, who has been struggling with poor form and a pelvic injury, takes on Americans Ryan Bailey and Mike Rodgers, along with Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut and fellow countrymen Nesta Carter and Kemar Bailey-Cole. The 28-year-old has not been running his usual fast times, with a seasonal best of 10.12 seconds which places him 61st in the world this year.

At yesterday’s press conference released on the IAAF website, Bolt said he won’t really know where he is at until after the race. “I’ve been training really hard and working on what I need to work on.

Now we’ll see what happens,” said Bolt. “Tomorrow (Friday) will give me momentum and focus going into the championships. It’s all about executing my race. I’m trying to get that right, and if I do I will be in good shape,” he added.

The legendary sprinter was asked about the threat from in-form Justin Gatlin, who has been unbeaten in his last 23 races. “It just takes one race to get to 9.7 so for me that doesn’t matter. I’m not worried about times,” was Bolt’s reply. Meanwhile, eight other Jamaicans will be in action today as Nickel Ashmeade and Julian Forte will line up in the men’s 200m in a very competitive field including American Dedric Dukes, who has the fourth fastest time of 19.99 seconds. Ashmeade has logged a season’s best of 20.18 and Julian Forte, with 20.04, is the ninth fastest this season.

Former Kingston College standout Zharnel Hughes, now of Great Britain, has announced himself on the international scene and will be hard to beat once again. South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana, with a season best of 20.04, should be right there at the death.

Americans Curtis Mitchell and Ameer Webb will also make their presence felt. Jamaica will once again have a presence in the women’s 400m as Stephanie McPherson, Christine Day and Novlene Williams-Mills take on Americans Francena McCorory, Natasha Hastings, Regina George of Nigeria and Olympic champion Christine Ohurugogu of Great Britain. With most of the top triple jumpers absent, Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams with a season’s best of 14.34m, which is the seventh longest this year, should be in the thick of things throughout.

Jason Morgan, the world leader in the men’s discus with 68.19m set in June, will have another chance to get it right on the Diamond League circuit when he takes on Piotr Malachaowski of Poland, Gerhard Mayer of Austria, Benn Harradine of Australia and Martin Kupper of Estonia.

Jenieve Russell with a season’s best of 54.83 seconds in the 400m hurdles will have to lower her personal best of 54.75 seconds if she intends to beat a quality field including Zuzana Hejnova of Czech Republic, who has the second fastest time this year of 53.76 seconds.

Americans Cassandra Tate (54.01), Tiffany Williams (54.27), South Africa’s Wendy Nel (54.37) and Eilidh Child of Great Britain with 54.46 complete a very competitive field.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, the promising Elaine Thompson (22.37) will line up in the 200m alongside the likes of Americans Candyce McGrone (22.08), Tori Bowie (22.23) and Kamaria Brown (22.24).

Thompson is Jamaica’s main hope for medal in the 200m in Beijing after easily winning at the Senior Championship.