Levell to test mettle against rising star Knighton

OLYMPICS-BOUND BRYAN Levell will test his mettle in the 200 metres against no less an opponent than United States rising star Erriyon Knighton, at the Holloway Pro Classic in Gainesville, Florida today.

Levell, who became national champion with his first sub-20 clocking, 19.97 seconds, will face Knighton, who has already gone 19.77 this season, but who has gone as quickly as 19.49 two years ago.

Also competing at the University of Florida, the final stop of the Puma America Track League series, will be 13 other Jamaicans.

Javari Thomas and Jevaughn Powell, of Jamaica, will also contest the half-lap event, with the United States Josephus Lyles for company.

Demish Gaye, who failed to finish in the men’s 400-metre final at the national championships, will line up for the one-lap event in Gainesville. Gaye, who has a season’s best of 45.18 seconds, will be up against a trio of United States athletes, led by 16 year-old schoolboy Quincy Wilson, who finished sixth at the US national championships to make their team to the Olympics as a part of their relay pool. He is the fastest in the line-up, with a best of 44.59, and will be joined by countrymen Will Clay and Matthew Boling.

Sandrey Davidson and Julian Forte, who have both recorded season’s bests of 10.00 seconds, will contest the men’s 100 metres along with Nigel Ellis, Jazeel Murphy, and Ashanie Smith.

The United States’ PJ Martin, who won the event at the last ATL meet in Memphis, Tennessee a week ago in 10.04, will lead the United States charge here.

Tyler Mason is down to compete in the 110m hurdles, while O’Brien Wasome faces the sandpit for the triple jump.

Young Skyler Franklin, the under-20 national champion over 400 metres, after switching allegiance from the United States to Jamaica, will contest the women’s 400 metres. She will be joined by Candice McLeod, a finalist in the event at the Budapest World Championships last year.

Yanique Thompson will be in a stacked women’s 100-metre hurdles, along with three of the leading medal contenders at the Olympic Games.

The United States’ Massai Russell, the world leader with 12.25 seconds, and teammate Grace Stark, who is ranked third with 12.31, along with world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, with a season’s best 12.40, should make for a cracking race.

Ronda Whyte will line up in the women’s 400m hurdles.