Powell heads Jamaican stars at Rome meet »

Powell heads Jamaican stars at Rome meet

Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

Powell

SEVERAL Jamaican track stars, led by former men's 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell, will be in action today at the Rome Golden League meet.

Following a successful National Championships two weeks ago, the Jamaican athletes will use the opportunity to warm up for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Powell, following his season best 9.90 seconds at the National Championships, will headline a quality field in the 100m.

Strong field

The field includes his training partners Michael Frater, who was third at the National Cham-pionships, and Nesta Carter, who suffered from cramps just before the start of that event and will be anxious to get back on form.

Also down to compete are World Championships 100m silver medallist Derrick Atkins of The Bahamas, Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure and Portugal's Francis Obikwele.

National 400 metres hurdles champion Danny McFarlane and second-place finisher Isa Phillips will face a strong field in the men's, as Golden League jackpot contender Bershawn Jackson of the United States will be hoping to maintain his unbeaten run this season.

Jackson, who won at the United States Olympic trials, will also oppose world leader Kerron Clement, who finished second at the trials.

Friendly rivalry

Following their exciting battles at the National Championships in the 100 and 200 metres, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson will continue their friendly rivalry in the longer event. American Sanya Richards, better known as a 400m runner, will be using the opportunity for some speed work as she will also compete in this event.

National 100 metres hurdles champion, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and runner-up, Delloreen Ennis-London, will be hoping to halt the unbeaten Golden League run of Spain's Josephine Onyia. Both Ennis-London and Foster-Hylton are in good form and could deny the Spanish hurdler.

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