[Updated June 4] The Prefontaine Classic being held today and tomorrow (June 3 & 4) in Eugene, Oregon will feature several Caribbean athletes, who are rounding into top shape for the ultimate destination: Daegu, South Korea in August. Olympic and World 100m champion Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Steve Mullings and Nesta Carter, and Trinidad’s Richard Thompson will lead the charge for the region.
100m
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Fraser-Pryce
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Jeter
Ridley Ingram photo
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The women’s 100m is the most intriguing match-up in which the USA trio of Carmelita Jeter, Lauryn Williams and Marshevet Myers will go up against Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson and Fraser-Pryce. Jeter posted a season best 10.86secs at the Jamaica International Invitation in early May and will be looking to continue her winning ways this weekend. However, she will have to contend with Fraser-Pryce, who not only has improved her start but has improved on her strength and endurance also, as evidence by her world-leading 22.10 200m win at the Jamaica Invitational. Stewart and Williams should be right there in the mix should Jeter and Fraser-Pryce falter.
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Thompson (left) and Callender
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Jamaica's Olympic gold medalists Nesta Carter and Michael Frater will contest the men’s 100m along with their compatriot and 2011 100m world-leader Steve Mullings (9.89). Mullings has been in fine form and clocked 9.97 to run second to Usain Bolt in Ostrava four days ago. Thompson and USA’s Mike Rodgers should both factor in the outcome.
200m
The Trinidad pair of Rondel Sorrillo and Emmauel Callender, and Churandy Martina (Netherlands Antilles) will take on the USA trio of Walter Dix, Xavier Carter and veteran Shawn Crawford. Sorrillo, the former NCAA 200m champion for the University of Kentucky with a personal best 20.29 will have to contend with an in-form Dix, who has a lifetime best 19.69 in the 200m and a season best of 20.06.
400m Hurdles
Jamaica’s top two female hurdlers, Olympic and World Champion Melaine Walker and 2010 Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer, will clash and at the same time take on Trinidad’s 2009 Worlds bronze medalist Josanne Lucas and long-time rivals 2009 Worlds silver medalist Lashinda Demus and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Sheena Johnson-Tosta of the USA.
Walker, with a PB of 52.42secs, recently posted a world-leading 54.09. Demus has a PB 52.63 and a season best 54.68. Spencer, who has a PB 53.33 and season best 54.20, is tipped to do much damage this year.
400m
The women’s edition will feature Jamaica’s Shericka Williams against Botswana’s Amantle Montsho, USA’s Debbie Dunn, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross. Williams will be looking to do something about her slow start this season. Felix, on the other hand, has been impressive so far and
has the world leading time of 49.81secs.
800m
Women's 800m world-leader Jamaica’s Kenia Sinclair (1:58.41) heads a strong field that includes USA’s Phoebe Wright (season-best 1:59.98) and Anna Pierce; South Africa’s Caster Semenya; and Kenya’s pair of Pamela Jelimo and Janeth Jepkosgei. Sinclair has been running well lately, winning at the Jamaica Invitational and running a 1:57.00 leg on Jamaica’s victorious sprint medley relay team at the Penn Relays in April.
Field Events
Caribbean athletes will also be in action in field events, and this is where the Bahamas is expected to take charge with high jumper Donald Thomas contesting the men’s high jump, and Panama’s Irving Saladino in the men’s long jump.
Trinidad’s Cleopatra Borel-Brown will compete in the women’s shot put. The 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist threw the iron ball out to 19.17m to take the victory over Cubans Misleydis Gonzalez and Mailin Vargas at the 7th International Grand Prix Athletics Box Unifor in Brazil last month. Her throw smashed the six-year-old meet record of 19.04m.