A place where the stars shine »

A place where the stars shine

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor

Jamaica's Sherone Simpson (No. 87) runs away from countrywoman Veronica Campbell (right) to win the women's 200m at the Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium in 2006.

THE JAMAICA International Invitational (JII), now set for its fifth staging at the National Stadium tonight, has never failed to serve up world-class performances.

Four years ago a galaxy of stars descended on the National Stadium for what has now become an annual offering of sizzling track-and-field action on the first weekend in May.

The unrivalled star of year one, 2004, was the now disgraced American sprint queen Marion Jones. Jones wowed an adoring crowd of more than 17,000 with a world-leading 11.04 seconds to win the 100 metres ahead of compatriot Lauryn Williams (11.10) and local girl Sherone Simpson, 11.11.

With the crowd cheering her every move Jones returned to leap 6.73m to take the long jump.

The many-time world and Olympic gold medalist, Gail Devers, was equally impressive in her pet event. The then 37-year-old romped to victory in the 100m hurdles in 12.50, also a world-leading time.

It was an evening when Americans dominated. Labronze Garnett took the men's 400m hurdles in 48.76 ahead of Jamaica's soon to be Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane. Jearl Miles-Clark won the women's 400m in 51.50 and Savante Stringfellow won the men's long jump with a leap of 7.81m.

The brilliant mutola

World record holder Asafa takes time out to sign autographs after blazing 9.95 seconds to win the 100-metre event at the 2006 Jamaica International Invitational.

The American dominance was broken by the brilliant Mozambican 800m runner Maria Mutola who romped the event in 2.00.38 and Canada's Jamaican-born Mark Boswell who cleared 2.27 to take the men's high jump.

Late in the evening, Jamaica's Davian Clark drew the biggest cheers when he won the men's 400m in 45.50 from American Derrick Brew, 45.96.

In 2005, the JII field was headed by two Olympic champions, 200m gold medallist Veronica Campbell and 100m hurdles winner American Joanna Hayes but it was current world record holder Asafa Powell who grabbed the limelight with a national record 9.84 in the men's 100m.

On a night when Jamaicans really shone, Powell's MVP teammate Sherone Simpson took the women's 100m in 11.03 and Campbell streaked to victory in the 200m in 22.53.

Other popular Jamaican winners on the night were Usain Bolt (men's 200m in 20.14) and Kenia Sinclair, who crossed the line first in the women's 800m in 2:00.05.

The 2006 renewal of the JII was certainly the most thrilling. Local track club MVP showed that it was a very strong force with victories by Powell (100m), Sherone Simpson (200m) and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100m hurdles).

Simpson's impressive win

Marion Jones ... stole the show at the first JII.

By his own standards, Powell's 9.95 in the 100m was slow but it was Simpson who brought the house down with an impressive win over Campbell in the 200m. The former Manchester High student gave a hint of what was to come on the grand prix circuit that year with a personal best, meet record run of 22.14. She streaked away from Campbell (22.51) and American Muna Lee, 22.77.

The men's 200m was even more exciting. Defending meet champion Bolt held off American Tyson Gay in a stirring stretch duel. The winning time was 20.10 to Gay's 20.12.

Sinclair repeated her victory in the 800m (2:00.02) while Foster-Hylton won the 100m hurdles in 12.69.

The United States' Lashawn Merritt (centre) wins the men's 400m in 44.95 seconds ahead of compatriot Andrew Rock (right), 45.21, and Usain Bolt, 45.25, at the Jamaica International Invitational last year. - File photos

American LaShawn Merritt powered to a fairly fast early-season 44.67 in the 400m pulling Jamaica's Jermaine Gonzales down to a then personal best 44.90 for third. Another American, Andrew Rock, was second in 44.89.

Last year's meet proved to be Campbell's first step towards gold in the 100m in the Osaka World Championships. Following an injury-plagued 2006 she returned with a bang to take the 100m in a world-leading 11.07.

Campbell's training partner, American Tyson Gay, also served notice of things to come when he blew away the 200m field to clock 19.97.

Night's shocker

Jamaica's James Beckford soars through the air on his way to winning the men's long jump at the 2005 meet.

The night's shocker came in the women's 200m. Simpson, the fastest woman in the world over both 100m and 200m in 2006, was upstaged by veteran sprinter Rachelle Smith. The American won in 22.65 to Simpson's, 22.76.

Foster-Hylton (12.71) was again victorious in the 100m hurdles beating her archrival, Canada's Perdita Felicien (12.75).

Sinclair made it three in a row in the 800m, this time registering a Stadium record 1:59.19.

Merritt was again on top in the men's 400m and with another sub-45 seconds time. He clocked 44.95 to beat his compatriot Rock (45.21). Bolt, who took his chances in the one-lap event, was third in 45.25.

With Powell out, his MVP teammate and 2003 World Championships silver medallist Darrel Brown took the men's 100m in 10.02.

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