KINGSTON,  Jamaica — Jamaica’s rising star Akeem Bloomfield will match strides with American World Champion Justin Gatlin and Canadian star Andre DeGrasse in the 200m at the third staging of the Grenada Invitational Track and Field Meet on Saturday.

Two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will also be in action over 100 metres as will former world record holder Asafa Powell as several Jamaicans descend on the Spice Island this weekend. 

The 21-year-old Bloomfield who has the world leading time of 20.24s and a personal best of 19.81s is said to be flying in training and will be severely tested by Gatlin, DeGrasse and the improving Miguel Francis of Antigua now representing Great Britain and his teammate Adam Gemili.

Former Calabar High star and 2013 World Youth 200m champion, Michael O’Hara, now at Racers, is scheduled to compete in the 200m also. He has a personal best of 20.45 seconds, set in 2014.

The 37-year-old Gatlin has a personal best of 19.57s while DeGrasse and Francis, both 24 years old, have bests of 19.80s and 19.88s respectively. Gemili is no slouch either with a 19.97s best. 

Meanwhile, Asafa Powell will continue his quest for his 100th sub-10 clocking and will line up against Nesta Carter, American Isiah Young, and fellow Jamaicans Tyquendo Tracey and Julian Forte. 

Commonwealth Games 200m gold medallist Rasheed Dywer is in the 400m alongside Grenadines star Bralon Taplin. Olympic 400m champion Kirani James will not be in action. 

Joining Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 100m is the promising Jonelle Smith, while Sherone Simpson and Anastasia LeRoy will compete in the 200m, and Christine Day and Keliesha Spencer are down for the 400m. 

More to come.

Howard Walker