De Grasse’s confirmation sets stage for mouthwatering clash with Asafa
Canadian sprint sensation Andre De Grasse will compete on Jamaican soil for the first time at the Jamaica International Invitational (JII), an IAAF World Challenge meeting set for May 7, at Kingston’s National Stadium.
De Grasse had a sensational 2015 season where he was tied for third in the 100m at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China in a personal best 9.92 seconds tied with American Trayvon Bromell behind Usain Bolt and another American Justin Gatlin.
He was confirmed, along with four other athletes on Friday, and his inclusion makes for a mouth-watering men’s 100m as former world record holder in the men’s 100m Asafa Powell, who won the 100m last year in a then world-leading and meet record 9.84 seconds, was also confirmed last week.
American Mike Rogers, who is expected to run in the 100m, was confirmed earlier.
De Grasse won the sprint double at the Pan-American Games last year in Toronto, setting a Canadian National Record 19.88 seconds in the 200m where he beat Jamaican Rashid Dwyer, who is also down to take part.
The athlete, whose parents are from the Caribbean, is the first Canadian man to run both sub 10 seconds in the 100m and sub-20 seconds in the 200m.
Pan-American women’s 100m champion Sherone Simpson has also been confirmed for the event, meet organisers confirmed to the Sunday Observer.
Simpson, who switched camps to the Maurice Wilson-led Sprint Tech, has had a good last season and has started the 2016 season well with a series of good relay legs so far.
Running from lane eight at the Pan-American Games, she was a surprise winner in a fast 10.95 seconds, her best in seven years.
Meanwhile, intermediate hurdlers Jeffrey Gibson of The Bahamas and Cassandra Tate of the USA, both bronze medallists at the IAAF World Championships last year, are also down to take part.
Gibson, a training partner of Jamaican Roxroy Cato, finished last year as the fifth fastest man over the 400m hurdles with a personal best 48.17 seconds.
Tate was fourth overall in 2015 after setting her lifetime best 54.01 seconds at an IAAF Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.
