ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Americans Justin Gatlin and Tori Bowie, along with hometown boy Bralon Taplin are the star attractions for Saturday’s (21 April) Grenada Invitational, set for the Kirani James Athletics Stadium.
Local fans, however, will pay special attention on the men’s 400m with Taplin, who they are expecting to give them a James’ like 2017 success. James, the island’s sporting ambassador, won the event in 2017.
Taplin will have the competition in Jamaican Jamari Rose and Lugeulin Santos from Dominican Republic.
World champion Gatlin headlines the men’s 100m field, which includes fellow Americans Mike Rodgers and Isiah Young, along with Andrew Fisher from Bahrain.
London 2017 World 100m winner Tori Bowie is the biggest name in the women’s 200m. She goes up against compatriots Jeneba Tarmoh, Lakeisha Lawson, Asha Ruth and Kaylin Whitney.
In the men’s 200m, Jamaican Nigel Ellis and Emmanuel Callender of Trinidad & Tobago will try to match strides with American former World and Olympic 400m champion Lashawn Merritt.
Recently crowned Nigerian Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles champion Tobi Amusan and BVI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott faces Tarmoh in the women’s 100m.
The women’s 400m is loaded with Jamaicans Dominique Blake, Verone Chambers, Christine Day, Tiffany James and Sonikqua Walker. Shamier Little, the American 400m hurdler, is expected to put up a good fight.
Amusan is also listed for the women’s 100m hurdles where she is expected to face tough challenge from Americans Kristi Castlin and Kori Carter.
Andre Blake of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago’s pair of Jameel Joseph and Emmauel Mayers are in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer and Leah Nugent, along with Sparkle McKnight of Trinidad and Tobago and Yanique Haye-Smith, face American Cassandra Tate in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Kimberly Williamson and Saniel Atkinson-Grier, both Jamaicans, are in the women’s high jump, while compatriot Damar Forbes will start in the men’s long jump.