By Anthony Foster in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe for TrackAlerts.Com
Former men’s 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and Kim Collins, the 2003 World 100m champion, face-off today (2 May) at the 11th Meeting Region Guadeloupe, an IAAF Area Permit meet at Baie Mahault, Guadeloupe.
Both Powell and Collins are ready and for the showdown.
Powell told TrackAlerts.Com on Friday, “I definitely would want to open with something below 10 secs. Anything below 10, I would be satisfied,” he said while adding, “hopefully if I run as how I feel in training, it will be sub-9.9.”
As for his fans here in Guadeloupe, Collins said “they can expect a very good race, looking at the condition and the completion.”
“I’m looking forward to put the 100m together and try and see where I am at in terms of running a good 100m this season,” added Collins.
The women’s 100m, filled with all Americans, English Gardner, Mikele Barber, Tori Bowie, Barbara Pierre and Porscha Lucas, should also be very hot. Add to those Cambrya Jones, Alexis Love and Lekeisha Lawson.
Meanwhile, World and Olympic long jump champion Brittney Reese and Bershawn Jackson, the 2005 World 400m hurdles champion, are also down to compete.
Reese will face fellow Americans Toni Smith, Andrea Geubelle, Whitney Gipson and Alittia Boyd, along with Cuban, Iris Daymi Herrera and Brazilan Jessica Dos Reis.
“I just want to go out there and do the best I can,” said Reese while adding “tomorrow will be a better test for me to see where I am at in my training.”
Bahamian Bianca Stuart, who is also in the field, is expected to have a big impact on the event.
In the 400m hurdles, Jamaicans Leford Green and Andre Clarke will challenge Jackson.
Bahamian Jeffery Gibson is also listed along with American Johnny Dutch and Cubans Luis Jose Gaspar and Omar Cisneros.
In the women’s equivalent, Jamaican sisters Nikita Tracey and Ristananna Tracey and compatriot Rushell Clayton, will go up against Americans Tiffany Williams, Turquoise Thompson and Cassandra Tate.
The women’s 400m will have Kinecke Alexander of St. Vincent and The Grenadines and Allison Peters of US Virgin Islands. They will challenge Americans Monica Hargrove Briana Nelson, Latosha Wallace, Shapri Romero and Jasmine Chaney.
Jamaicans Dane Hyatt, Oral Thompson, Chumaine Fitten and Riker Hylton are in the men’s 400m with Americans Calvin Smith, James Harris and Patrick Feeney.
Americans Ryan Wilson, Ronnie Ash and Aleec Harris against homeboy and World Junior champion Wilhem Belocian, Trinidad & Tobago’s Wayne Davis and Eddie Lovett of US Virgin Islands will highlight the men’s 110m hurdles.
Brianna Rollins of USA is in the women’s 100m hurdles.
In the field, American Michelle Carter is in the women’s shot put along with compatriots Felisha Johnson and Jeveva Stevens and Cubans Sallu Viart and Yaniuvis Lopez.
Bahamians Donald Thomas and Ryan Ingraham are in the men’s high jump while Jamaican Demar Forbes and Bahamian Leevan Sands is making a comeback from injuries in the men’s long jump.
