Asafa Powell - file

The premier relay carnival of the Caribbean, the Gibson Relays, takes centre stage at the National Stadium tomorrow morning at 9.30.

On display at the 31st running of the Relays will be the best of local track and field talent from prep, primary, junior high, high schools, clubs and institutions. There will also be 4x100m events to be contested by Masters and Special Olympians.

The shuttle relays which have helped to make Jamaica one of the foremost countries in hurdling at the international level is back this year after a break and will be run at approximately 4 p.m. In addition to local-based overseas athletes from G.C. Foster College, MVP Track Club and High Performance Centre, teams are also expected this year from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman, Antigua and Haiti. As usual most attention will be on the high school events. For most schools this will be the last big meet before the March 28-31 Grace ISSA Boys and Girls Championships. The Gibson Relays has always proven to be the most important pointer to 'Champs' and this year will be no different.

One horse race

Among the girls all eyes will be on Holmwood Technical, the defending inter—secondary champions. The Maurice Wilson-coached Holmwood are expected to sweep all three championship relays, the 4x100m for under-19 girls and the open events over 4x400m and 4x800m.

In the sprint relay most competition will come from St. Jago High and Edwin Allen High. It will be a virtual one-horse race in the 4x400m as Holmwood's Anastasia Le-Roy, Schillonie Calvert and Bobby-gaye Wilkins are three of the top female high school athletes over 400m. The Christiana girls will, however, be strongly tested by what should be a very good Edwin Allen quartet in the 4x800m.

Schools such as Manchester High, Vere Technical High, St. Jago High, St. Andrew High and Immaculate High should share some of the spotlight in the lower classes.

The boys events will be very competitive. Calabar who lost by under two points at last year's Boys Championships are expected to make a strong statement at tomorrow's Relays. Calabar, coached by Michael Clarke, were outstanding, especially in Class One, at the recent Howard Jackson Relays in Morant Bay. Defending boys champions KC have lost a number of key athletes but the Lennox Graham-coached boys still held their own in Classes Two and Three.

Both schools will be hunting bragging rights ahead of the Grace ISSA championships at the end of next month. Jamaica College, St. Jago High, Camperdown and Wolmer's will also be among the top schools.

Eyes on Asafa

In the senior events all eyes will be on world 100m record holder Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, the fastest woman in the world last year over 100m and 200m. Both are expected to run in the colours of the MVP Track Club in the men's and women's sprint relays for clubs and institutions.

The High Performance Centre with young stars Usain Bolt and Jermaine Gonzales in their line-up are the big favourites for the 4x400m for clubs.

Action starts at 9.30 a.m. with the 4x400m open heats for high school boys.

The curtain will come down on the meet at approximately 8:50 p.m. with the final of the same event.