By Anthony Foster in Pointe-à-Pitre,Guadeloupe
Most attentions will be focused on the men’s 400m at the Meeting International Region Guadeloupe on Saturday (10 May 2014). Start lists for the event – Female Star List and Male Start List
The line-up includes seven athletes who have ran sub-45 seconds times. And to make the race more interesting is that fact that all the sub-45 men are between 44.4 and 44.9.
On paper Chris Brown 44.40 is the fastest. However he will have keen rivalries from two of his Bahamian teammates from the London Olympic 1600m relay gold medal team.
They are Demetrious Pinder, who has personal best of 44.77 and Ramon Miller with 44.87.
Also, Great Britain’s Martyn Rooney 44.60, Trinidad & Tobago’s Lalonde Gordon 44.52, Tabarie Henry of US Virgin Islands 44.77 and American David Verburg 44.75 fuel more competition to the race.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Jarrin Solomon 45.19 is the only man in the field yet to run under 45 seconds.
The women’s 100m hurdles could also see a fast time as former Olympic champion Dawn Harper Nelson, who won in Cayman with 12.81, will again battle with Jamaican Andrea Bliss, who was second in 13.15secs.
Kristi Castlin, who has a personal best of 12.56, is also a very strong competitor and has what it takes to win. Fellow Americans Gabby Moya, Tenaya Jones, and Jackie Coward should add to the excitement.
The men’s 110m hurdles will see Trinidad & Tobago’s Mikel Thomas going up against Americans Dexter Faulk and Ladji Doucoure of France.
Nicholas Gordon of Jamaica and former Wolmer’s High Schoolboy Julian Reid, who now represents Great Britain, will go up against Luis Felipe Meliz of Spain.
Americans Tyron Stewart, Ron Taylor and Jeffery Henderson are also in the field.
Meanwhile, Jamaican Mario Forsythe and St. Kitts and Nevis’ Antoine Adams will take on Americans Isiah Young and Maurice Mitchell in the men’s 200m.
Arnaud Remy of France is also on the start list.
In the women’s 100m, Schillonie Calvert of Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle Lee Ahye will face a strong field, which includes Americans Lashauntea Moore, Tiffany Townsend, Mikele Barber, Candyce McGrone and Moya.
The women’s 400m will also be strong with Shericka Williams and Christine Day of Jamaica up against Americans Monica Hargrove, and Joanna Atkins
Bianca Stuart of The Bahamas will be in the women’s long jump with Americans Tora Bowie and Tori Polk.
