By Anthony Foster in Hamilton, Bermida
Former World champion and Olympic Games silver medalist, Jason Richardson, Mike Rodgers, Michael Frater and Javon Francis, will headline the Bermuda Invitational Meet on Friday, April 22.
Richardson, who won the world 110m hurdles title in 2011, is expected to line up against Jamaican, Deuce Carter.
Also in the men’s 110m hurdles field, are Americans Jarrett Eaton, Fred Townson and Aramis Masenburg, along with Eddie Lovett of USVI.
Rodgers, a member of USA’s 2015 World Relays winning 4x100m team, goes up against Frater, the 2003 World Championships silver medallist, Oshane Bailey with 10.06 PB and Kevaughn Rattray, both of Jamaica, in the men's 100m. Shane Jones of Bahamas, Cayman Islands’, Kemar Hyman, Gayanese, Adam Harris and Bermudian, Tre Houston, complete the field.
Americans Cierra White with 11.07 and Chelsea Hayes 11.09 are the fastest women down for the 100m, which will also have Bahamas’ Cache Ambrister.
In the 200m, Houston carries his country’s flag against Harris, Hyman, Adrian Griffiths of Bahamas, Jamaican, Nathan Allen, Winston George of Guyana and Cayman Islands’, Tyrell Cuffy.
The men’s 400m will see Francis, the favoruite, up against fellow Jamaicans, Javere Bell, Jermaine Gayle, and Riker Hylton. American Calvin Smith and Delano Williams of Great Britain will make the event very competitive.
Sade Sealy of Barbados is the one to beat in the women’s one lap event, but Jamaican, Tiffany James, who has run a personal best of 52.30 this season, can’t be taken lightly.
Samantha Edwards of Antigua and Barbuda and Bahamian, Lanece Clarke, are also very good competitors. Dawnalee Loney and Jonique Day, both of Jamaica, are also in the field.
Jamaicans, Nickeisha Wilson and Rushell Clayton, along with homegirl, Shianne Smith, should pressure Americans, Leah Nugent and McKenzie Hill, in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Wesley Vasquez of Puerto Rico, if he runs true to form, should take the men’s 800m. However, with all the others, T&T’s Jamaal James, Jamaicans Ricardo Cunningham, Jowayne Hibbert and Sadiki White and Bermudian Aaron Evans, within the 1:46 — 1:47 zone, this race should be very competitive.
Anna Willard of USA is the fastest of the women’s 800m runners at 1:58.80, but this was done way back in 2009. With Alena Brooks of T&T, Bahamas’ Te’shon Adderley, along with Americans Stephanie Herrick and Megan Manley, this event is wide open.
In the men's long jump, Bermudians Tyrone Smith, Bruce DeGrilla and Ethan Phillip will face-off with Americans Michael Hartfield, the best in the field, at 8.42m and Mikese Morse.
However, it will not be easy for the Americans, as Jamaican Demar Forbes, who has a personal best of 8.35, will also be going for the win. Other Jamaicans here are Nicholas Gordon and Kamal Fuller.
The women’s high jump with Jamaican, Saniel Atkinson-Grier and American Tynita Butts, should also be competitive. Bermuda’s Carifta Games bronze medallist, Sakari Famous will fancy the experience.
