Anthony Foster, Freelance Reporter

The United States' Wallace Spearmon (left) and Jamaica's Usain Bolt cross the finish line after the men's 200 metres during the British athletics Grand Prix at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, England in July last year. Spearmon won in a photo finish, as both athletes were timed in an identical 20.08 seconds. - AP

Track and field fans will get an opportunity to witness the biggest clash yet of the year on local soil when Usain Bolt faces American Wallace Spearmon in the men's 100m at the May 3rd Jamaica International Invitational, which will be run at the National Stadium.

The athletes have a running battle that hit high gear last year. Bolt won their only 100m showdown at Rethimmo, Greece, in 10.03 seconds, with Spearmon behind in 10.20. Overall, they have met 14 times with Spearmon winning the vast majority of those races - nine times.

Bolt, who opened up with a 10.03-second run at GC Foster College earlier this year and Spearmon, a World Championships silver medallist, will face-off against 2003 World champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis, American Darvis Patton and Churandy Martina of the Netherland Antilles in a quality 100m field.

Meanwhile, Asafa Powell, the world's fastest man and other members of his world class MVP Track Club, will not be competing at this year's event.

According to Donald Quarrie, the meet's liaison official who negotiates with the athletes the MVP group has prior engagements.

The high-profile MVP team also includes Olympic relay gold medallist Sherone Simpson, the top female sprinter in 2006, World Championships silver and bronze medal sprint hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton, World Championship 1600 metres relay silver medal winner Shericka Williams and Trinidad and Tobago's Darrell Brown, the 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist.

However, one member of the Stephen Francis-coached group, Melaine Walker, will compete. According to Quarrie, the athlete's manager, Juliet Campbell, insisted that she competes at this meet.

Despite MVP's absence, the meet has attracted a plethora of star athletes including three World champions - Veronica Campbell-Brown, Tyson Gay and Kerron Clement. At the launch of the meet yesterday at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston, Sports Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange pledged the government's support to the tune of $21 million.

Campbell-Brown is down to run the 200m where she will face Americans Shalonda Solomon (22.36 PR) and Bianca Knight, who earlier this year, broke her 200m indoor college record, along with Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Aleen Bailey.

In the men's 200m, World sprint double champion Gay, Campbell's training partner, will face Jamaicans Marvin Anderson, a finalist in Osaka, Chris Williams, the 2003 World Championships silver medallist and Clement Campbell, along with Brendon Christian of Antigua and Barbuda.

The other world champion, Trinidad and Tobago-born Kerron Clement, who now competes for the United States of America, will take on Jamaicans Danny McFarlane, the Olympic Games silver medallist, Isa Phillips, Adrian Findlay and his American counterpart, Derrick Williams.

The women's event will see Lashinda Demus of the United States, her compatriot Markita James, along with Jamaicans Walker and Shevon Stoddart as the main contenders.

WORLD'S TOP ATHLETE

Sports Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange (second right), along with Howard Aris, president of the Jamaica Ameteur Athletics Association (left), David Mais (right), Sports Development Foundation chairman, and Olympians Donald Quarrie and Juliet Cuthbert, pose at yesterday's launch of the Jamaica International Invitational held at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston. - photo by Anthony Foster

The women's 400m will feature Jamaican-born American competitor Sanya Richards, the world's top athlete over the distance, Jamaican Novlene Williams and American DeeDee Trotter.

In the men's 400m, Jamaicans Ricardo Campbell, Sanjay Ayre and Michael Blackwood will match strides against the United States' Andrew Rock.

American Marshevet Hooker will head the women's 100m field, while Kenia Sinclair and Hazel Clark of United States are leading contenders in the women's 800m.

In the field events, James Beckford (long jump), Elva Goulbourne (long jump), Dorian Scott (shot put) are the leading competitors.