All eyes on Shelly-Ann

WHILE SHELLY-ANN Fraser-Pryce’s long-awaited and much-delayed 100-metre season debut has grabbed all the attention, there will be 22 other Jamaicans down to compete in Luzern, Switzerland, today.

Along with Fraser-Pryce at the World Athletics Tour Silver meet will be Natasha Morrison and Briana Williams, all of whom line up in heat three of the 100s.

Also in the stacked heat will be Marolake Akinosun, Melissa Jefferson, and Kennedy Blackman of the United States, as well as New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs.

In an earlier heat, Serena Cole will line up with the big girls along with Jonielle Smith, who will also be contesting the 200.

Despite the late start to Fraser-Pryce’s season, a blinding first 110 metres in a 200 metres at the National Champions, where she came off the turn ahead of eventual winner, Shericka Jackson, has given experts hope that she is in good form.

Fraser-Pryce ended well beaten in 22.26 seconds but still looked full of running after the heats and final.

Following a personal best 53.36-second clocking to win the women’s 400-metre hurdles in Hungary three days ago, Andrenette Knight, now ranked third on the World Athletics Top list, also goes into action.

Knight will renew rivalry with national champion, Janieve Russell, who she defeated in Hungary, and will have two of her main rivals in Budapest, in the United States duo of Dalilah Muhammad and Anna Cockrell.

Following their close finish in the women’s 100-metre hurdles at the National Championships where they were third and fourth, respectively, Danielle Williams will battle Amoi Brown once again, with the United States Tonea Marshall also in the line-up.

Upset winner of the men’s 100 metres at the National Championships, Rohan Watson, will be hoping to bounce back from a third-place finish behind Yohan and Ackeem Blake two days ago when he leads four Jamaicans in the event.

Michael Campbell, Julian Forte, and Nigel Ellis are the other Jamaicans down to contest the sprint. Forte will also contest the men’s 200 metres.

Tyler Mason will be hoping for a better result today than his close third-place finish in the men’s 110-metre hurdles in Hungary, when he, along with Ronald Levy, Orlando Bennett, and Damion Thomas face the starter.

Three Jamaican men, led by Tajay Gayle will be among those contesting field events in Luzern. Gayle will compete in the men’s long jump, while Christoff Bryan will do so in the high jump, and Rajindra Campbell takes on a shot put field.