WORLD Championships 4x100m relay bronze medallist Ackeem Blake will headline a strong field of 34 men competing in the Invitational 60m event at SW Isaacs Henry Development Meet today at the National Stadium.

Blake, a 22-year-old athlete coached by Michael Frater at Dynamics Track Club in Kingston, was part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that secured the bronze medal in Budapest, Hungary, in August 2023. Having had a commendable season so far, Blake recently set a season’s best of 6.45 seconds to finish second at New Balance Invitational in Boston on February 4.

The race was won by American superstar Noah Lyles who clocked a lifetime-best time of 6.44s, also setting a meet record and claiming the world-leading performance. Blake, a rising star in Jamaican sprinting, holds a personal best of 9.89s in the 100m, achieved in May 2023.

Joining Blake in the event is Bryan Levell, who boasts a season’s best time of 6.59s. Other notable competitors in the field include veterans Tyquendo Tracey and Emmanuel Archibald of Guyana, along with Jeevan Newby, Ramone Barnswell, Mario Williams, and Odario Harris.

On the women’s side, former World Under-20 double sprint gold medallist Briana Williams leads the field of eight competitors in the women’s 60m event featuring Serena Cole, Janeek Brown, and Roneisha McGregor. These athletes are using the 60m events as preparation for the World Indoor Championships scheduled for March 1-3 at Commonwealth Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. An invitational 200m event for both men and women is also on the agenda.

Over 500 athletes are set to compete in the high school section of the event that will feature contests in the 100m, 200m, and 400m for both boys and girls, as well as the 70m hurdles, 80m and 100m hurdles for girls, and the 100m, 110m hurdles, and 400m hurdles for boys. Additionally, there will be the 2000m steeplechase for boys and girls along with the 4x100m and 4x400m relays for boys and girls in all classes.