Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona will take a break from trying to impress NFL coaches to compete at the USATF LA Grand Prix that starts Friday evening at the UCLA Drake Stadium in Los Angeles.

Stona, who was invited to NFL rookie training camps by at least two teams, the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints, will contest the men’s discus throw while national record holder Navasky Anderson will contest the men’s 800m.

Both athletes have attained the qualifying standards for the Paris Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, another 16 Jamaicans are down to take part on Saturday’s second day of the event, including World Championships finalist Roshawn Clarke who is set to open his season in the men’s 400m hurdles; Tina Clayton is one of four Jamaicans in the women’s 100m A race.

On Friday, Stona, who threw a personal best 69.05m earlier this year, will line up against a field that will include Alex Rose of Samoa and Americans Reggie Jagers and Andrew Evans.

Anderson, who has a season best 1:45.29, will run in the men’s 800m B race and faces the likes of Kenya’s Festus Lagat, Jesus Tonatiu Lopez of Mexico and Abraham Alvardo of the USA.

-Paul A Reid