Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste will have the ultimate test on Saturday when the Women’s 100m final takes off at the adidas Grand Prix in New York, USA.
Baptiste, the World Championship bronze medallist, will line up against an elite field which includes current World champion and Olympic favourite Carmelita Jeter of the USA and reigning Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica among other top contenders.
Jeter boasts the fastest time for the year (10.81) followed by Baptiste (10.81) and American Allyson Felix (10.92) who is also in the race.
Baptiste has been the most consistent TT athlete on the European circuit for over a year and is expected to be among the medals for the Olympics.
The Tobagonian warmed-up with a 22.23 clocking to take the gold in the 200m event at the at the NTC Last Chance Meet in Florida on Saturday.
Also competing will be former First Citizens Sportswoman of the Year, Cleopatra Borel in the Women’s Shot Putt.
Borel will need to improve on her personal best of 18.69 to have a chance at a medal but with the Olympics nearing, will be hoping to just build form towards peaking in London.
Quarter-miler Renny Quow is also scheduled to compete in the Men’s 400m event which also features quadruple Olympic medallist Jeremy Wariner and reigning Olympic bronze medallist Bershawn Jackson also of the USA.
Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson, Aaron Armstrong and Keston Bledman are all slated to run in the Men’s 100m event but
all eyes will undoubtedly be on
the electric Tyson Gay of the USA.
-Stephon Nicholas
Source: www.newsday.co.tt