World Stars Arriving For Jamaica Athletics Invitational

Several of the world’s leading athletes arrived in the island on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s big Jamaica Athletics Invitational track and field meet at the National Stadium.

Among those already here are Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley of the United States, Dina Asher-Smith and Matthew Hudson Smith of Great Britain.

Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands and Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast are also on the island for the World Continental Silver meet.

Coleman, who won the world indoor 60 metres title in Glasgow in March, was the 100 metres World Champion in 2019.

On Saturday he will run in the 200 metres, a decision he explained to Nationwide Sports.

Asher-Smith, who won the World 200 metres title in 2019, will compete over that distance on Saturday. She told Nationwide Sports she’s just happy to be running in Jamaica.

Ta Lou has been Africa’s standard-bearer in the sprint for the better part of the last decade and has won medals at the World Championships.

She is entered for the 100 metres, avoiding a clash with Asher-Smith, but will come face-to-face with Julien Alfred of St. Lucia.

The Jamaica Athletics Invitational is set to get underway at 7:30pm and Nationwide 90FM will have live coverage during Sports Nation Live.