Kingston, Jamaica - The 400m field for Saturday's third annual Jamaica International Invitational is expected to be the hottest on the evening's card on 5 May.

The Jamaica International Invitational is one of a select group of Area Permit meets at which points can be earned for qualification to the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final.

Last year's top three finishers in the 400m, Americans Lashaun Merritt (44.67) and Andrew Rock (44.89 ) who repeated their top two positions from 2005, along with Jamaica's Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jermaine Gonzales, who ran a then personal best (44.90), will again run at the National Stadium.

World Junior 200m record holder, Usain Bolt, who ran 19.88 seconds over the half lap last season, joins the party, and along with former national champions Michael Blackwood and Lansford Spencer, the home crowd is in for an action fill race.

Bolt, who returned to the island on Thursday (3) from a meet in Guadeloupe where he ran 45.6 for third overall in a two-heat time final, said he would have to plan Saturday's race.

"You just going to have to plan your race well, because it's going to be a very hard race, one with a lot of strong positions.” Bolt said that this will be his final 400m race for the season and he aims to better his 2004 Champs record and personal best of 45.35 over the distance. "I would love to run sub-45, but 45.1 would be good also," he said.

Campbell and Simpson in the sprints

Apart from the men's 400m event, most eyes will be on the women's 100m and 200m where Olympic champion Veronica Campbell and last year’s quickest at both sprints Sherone Simpson will ply their trade.

Campbell will face Bahamian Debbie Ferguson in the 100m while Simpson is down to face Ferguson and Aleen Bailey in the 200m.

It is now certain that World 100m record holder Asafa Powell and Sanya Richards, the fastest woman over the one lap distance, will be missing in action.

Powell is suffering from tendinitis in his knee while it was reported that Richards is also ailing from an illness. Both have pulled out of meets prior to this, Powell the Mt. Sac and Penn Relays and Richards the Michael Johnson Invitational.

Powell's absence will leave his trainer partners at MVP - Michael Frater and Trinidadian Darrell Brown, silver medallists from the 2005 and 2003 World Championships respectively and Dwight Thomas to fight for the top spot.

Brown, whose personal best is 9.99 seconds will be looking for a good start under new coach Stephen Francis while Frater and Thomas hunt their first sub-10 second clockings.

In the women’s 400m, Richards' absence should clear the way for a closer showdown between Novlene Williams and Shericka Williams, both of whom had their fair share of successes over the past two years.

Novlene won at last year's National Championships while Shericka won in 2006. Both were expected to run for Jamaica at the Penn Relays last weekend, but did not for different reasons, Novlene because of a drop baton in the women's medley and Shericka because of uncertain reason. Bahamian Christine Amertil is also expected to face the starter in the women's 400m.

Gay goes at 200m

In the men's 200m, United States' Tyson Gay, who was beaten by Bolt in a close finish - 20.10 to 20.12 last season, promises a very fast time, despite the absence of his sub-20 colleagues.

"Even without Bolt in the race, I am still hoping to produce a very fast time and I think the fans deserve it," said Gay, who was impressive on his leg of USA's Red 4x100m relay team at last weekend's Penn Relays in Philadelphia. "I am hoping to run real fast," added Gay who arrived in the island on Thursday.
 
Gay, who had a very good 2006, which ended with an impressive 19.68 in Stuttgart for the World Athletics Final title and became the joint fourth fastest man ever at the distance with Frank Fredericks of Namibia, may not get the challenge he anticipates.

On Saturday, Gay will be challenged by Commonwealth Games gold medallist Omar Brown, boyfriend of Veronica Campbell, 2001 World Championships 200m silver medallist Christopher Williams, and Trinidadian Aaron Armstrong.

McFarlane vs Clement

The men's 400m Hurdles should also be excited as Jamaica's Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane is a tough competitor, which will mean Kerron Clement of United States will not have his way. Dean Griffith is also apart of the field.

The women's 100m Hurdles will be more like a preview of Jamaica's national Championships (June 22-24) as World Championships silver and bronze medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, Lacena Golding-Clarke and Vonette Dixon were the big names announced.

Anthony Foster for IAAF