Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
( L - R ) Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt
THE Beijing Olympic Games is just three weeks away, but come tomorrow most of the world's top athletes, including several Jamaicans, will give track and field fans an appetiser as they descend in Sweden to parade their skills in the Stockholm DN Galan Grand Prix Track and Field Meet.
There will be some mouth-watering clashes in both the male and female categories as athletes will be hoping to secure psychological advantages going into Beijing.
Undoubtedly, one of the main highlights of the meet should be the men's 100 metres where present recorder holder, Usain Bolt, will come face to face with countryman Asafa Powell, the former record holder. Despite the absence of the world 100 metres champion, Tyson Gay, this event is expected to be a cracker.
Three other good runners
The field also includes three other athletes who have gone under 10 seconds this season. The Americans Travis Padgett (9.89), Darvis Patton (9.89) and Rodney Martin (9.95) will be hoping to upset the Jamaicans but this will be no easy task. Also expected to compete are Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas, Kim Collins of St Kitts, Churandy Martin of the Netherland Antilles, Portugal's Frances Obikwelu and Jamaicans Michael Frater, Mario Forsythe and Ainsley Waugh.
Unlike the Jamaica National Championships where both Bolt and Powell seemed to just go through the motions, it will be a different affair now as Powell will want to keep his stadium record of 9.86 seconds intact. A prize of a $10,000 diamond will go to the athlete who breaks the stadium record and Bolt will be hoping to continue his impressive form as this more than likely could be his final 100 metres race going into Beijing and he will want to leave a strong statement. If conditions are right his world record time of 9.72 seconds, set in New York in May, could be lowered.
Another cracker event is the women's 400 metres as three ladies who have run under 50 seconds - joint world leaders Allison Felix of the United States and Botswana's Amantle Montsho with 49.83 seconds and Sanya Richards of the United States just behind with 49.86 seconds - will be strongly challenged by a host of Jamaicans.
Challenge leaders
The challenge will be led by new kid on the block, Rosemarie Whyte. Whyte who scored a major upset at the Jamaica National Championships with a scorching run of 50.05 seconds to be at number four in the world will make her debut on the European circuit. Countrywomen Novlene Williams- Mills, Shericka Williams and Kaliese Spencer will get a chance to exact revenge here but the talented Whyte is set to continue her good form and could give the likes of Felix and Richards a lot to think about.
The very busy Delloreen Ennis-London will be in action once again in the 100 metres hurdles following two good wins last week. She will face a very tough line up which includes world leader Lolo Jones (12.45) who was the winner at the United States Olympic Trials.
Jamaica's Vonette Dixon is also in the line up which also include Sweden's Susan Kallur and the very improved Sally McLellen of Australia who posted a personal best of 12.57 seconds a week ago.
The men's 4x100 and 4x400 metres are also down to take place. Jamaica is expected to field a team in the men's competition where they will face the United States and Britain.
Following his return to top form last weekend where he improved his world leading time to 43.86 seconds, World and Olympic 400 metres champion Jeremy Wariner should stamp his class once again. Despite the absence of his main rival Lashawn Merrit, the likes of the Bahamas pair of Chris Brown and Adretti Bain along with 400 metres hurdler Kerron Clement and the improving Ricardo Chambers of Jamaica should add some spice to this event.
Jamaica's Dorian Scott who has shown tremendous improvement in the shot put this year will be the other Jamaican male on the programme as he will compete in his pet event where the likes of the United States Reese Hoffa, Adam Nelson and Christian Cantwell are also down to compete.
The women's 100 metres will attract attention all over the world as we could see a preview of the Beijing finals.
Top female athletes
With only Jamaica National Champion Kerron Stewart the only absentee here, all the other top female 100 metres athletes in the world so far this season are on show. Jamaica's new sensation Shelly Ann Frazer, who finished second at the National Championships in a brilliant 10.85 seconds, and Sherone Simpson, who clocked 10.87 seconds to finish third at the championships, along with Sherri Ann Brooks will be challenged by the United States top three finishers at their Olympic Trials. World leader Torrie Edwards (10.78) along with their national champion Muna Lee (10.85) and third place finisher Lauryn Williams (10.90) will be hoping to upstage the Jamaicans. The Americans will also showcase Marshevet Hooker who has a best time of 10.94 seconds with Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste, the 2008 NCAA Division 1 100 metres champion, and The Bahamas Chandra Sturrup also in the line-up.
