TODAY SIGNALS the start of the new-look Foska Oats/Jamdammers Grand Prix Road Race Series but Wainard 'Jump-up' Talbert will not be around to defend his title.

Talbert is off the island on personal business. In his absence, Bellefield schoolboy Kemoy Campbell, who represented Jamaica at the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic in July, should be 'good to go' for his first Grand Prix Series win in today's Foska 5K which starts and ends at Emancipation Park.

Campbell, before he defeated Talbert at the Burger King 10K last year, had shown signs of upstaging the 'King of the Road'.

Top contenders

Other top contenders include Rupert Green, Andre Drummond, Andrew Gutzmore, Gregory McKenzie, Linton McKenzie, Jason Saunders and Phillip Edwards.

Unlike Talbert, defending women's champion Natoya Goule, who was also a part of Jamaica team's in Ostrava, will be out to defend her crown. She has been unbeaten on the road for the past three season and another series win is expected of the Manchester High student.

Former champion Tamika Thomas will be missing from this year's series as she has taken up a track scholarship at University of Maryland.

Challenge

That leaves Tanice Barnett, Areita Martin and Holmwood's Petrene Plummer to challenge Goule.

The overall series champions, male and female, will receive $40,000 each - up from $20,000, while second and third-place finishers will take home $20,000 and $15,000 each - up from $15,000 and $10,000.

The Future Champion category, which was previously for Under-19 athletes, has now been lowered to cater for athletes 17 years and younger.