Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
GATLIN
OLYMPIC 100M champion Justin Gatlin expressed willingness to compete at May's Jamaica International Invitational track and field athletics meeting at the National Stadium if the money is right.
"If they're talking the right price and they accommodate me well, then I will very much be obliged to come," stated Gatlin, who is also the World Championships double sprint champion.
Gatlin's United States teammate, Shawn Crawford, admitted he wasn't sure as that decision rests on certain variables.
"I leave stuff like that up to my coach and agent."
Over the last two years the Jamaica International Invitational, now an Area Permit Meet, has attracted several of the world's leading athetes, including Olympic and world champions.
Among those who have attended the meet are triple Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones, Olympic gold medallist Gail Devers, Lauryn Williams, all of United States, along with Canadian Perdita Felicien, former Kenyan runner Bernard Lagat who completed, and other Americans Hazel Clarke and Coby Miller.
Gatlin and the other members of his Sprint Capitol Track Club, including Crawford, Jamaica's Dwight Thomas and US 100m champion Me'Lisa Barber, left the island last Tuesday following their one-week training stint here.
The group was invited to Jamaica to attend the Douglas Forrest Invitational by JAAA's executive Brian Smith.
"I wish I could stay longer, I love Jamaica. I'm mad and sad that I've got to go," he said.
He expressed an interest in coming back, even if he is not invited to compete at the Jamaica International meet.
"For pleasure I would like to come ... but there are a lot of politics involved as well," he said.
