Parchment heads stars for Velocity Fest XI meet

Several senior national track and field stars, led by Tokyo Olympics 110 metres hurdles champion Hansle Parchment, 100 metres bronze medallist Shericka Jackson and 100m hurdles bronze medallist Megan Tapper, will be on show tomorrow at the Velocity Fest XI meet at the National Stadium.

Action starts at 5 p.m. for the World Athletics Continental Combined Tour Challenge Series meet, which will showcase a number of other athletes who will be seeking places on Jamaica’s team for this year’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Jackson, also a sprint relay gold medallist in Tokyo last year, has been competing in events from 60 metres to 400 metres so far this season. She will line up tomorrow in the 200 metres where she will face World Indoor 400 metres bronze medallist Stephenie Ann McPherson, Roneisha McGregor, Tiffany James-Rose, Shashalee Forbes and Natasha Morrison. McPherson and McGregor were members of the Jamaican team which mined gold in the 4x400 metres final at the recent World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Tapper, a surprise medallist in Tokyo, will line up in her pet event where she will face former Carifta Games Under-20 100m hurdles record holder Amoi Brown and 2008 Olympic Games and 2009 World Championships 400m hurdles gold medallist Melaine Walker.

A very strong field led by Tokyo Olympic Games finalist Candice McLeod will battle in the women’s 400 metres. The field includes the improved Junelle Bromfield and 400m hurdles specialists Ronda Whyte, Janieve Russell and Rushell Clayton. Shimarya Williams, Anastasia LeRoy and veteran Olympian and World Championships representative Christine Day will also face the starter.

In field events, triple jumper Shaneika Ricketts, long jumper Tissana Hickling and discus thrower Shadae Lawrence are down to compete.

Parchment, who created a major upset in Tokyo by winning the 110m hurdles event, will make his first appearance on the track this season when he competes in his pet event. He will face a quality field which will include Rasheed Broadbell, Tyler Mason, Michael O’Hara and Rohan Cole .

Former 100m World champion Yohan Blake will be hoping to go all the way when he lines up in the 100m. Also listed for this event are Julian Forte, Nigel Ellis, Tajay Gayle, Emmanuel Archer of Guyana , Antonio Watson, Dexter Lee, Jahzeel Murphy and new kid on the block Ackeem Blake. Gayle is the defending World long jump champion.

After contesting the 200 metres all season, 400m specialist Demish Gaye will return to his pet event. Zandrian Barnes, Anthony Cox, overseas-based Akani Slater, Bovell McPherson and Demar Murray are also down for the event

In field events, discus throwers Fedrick Dacres and Traves Smikle will lead the charge while, in the shot put, many-time national senior representative Odayne Richards will be challenged by Carifta Games Under-20 champion Kobe Lawrence.