SEVERAL of the country's senior athletes, led by former 100 metres world-ecord holder Asafa Powell, will be in action tomorrow at the National Stadium, as the fourth staging of the UTech Track and Field Classics gets under way at 4:45 p.m.

The meet is expected to have some overseas flavour as athletes from Cuba, Trinidad, Barbados and the University of Connecticut are down to compete. Meet Manager Paul Francis is very excited about the staging of this year's event.

"I am very pleased with the support that we have got for this year's staging, although we would like to have at least four college teams from the United States competing against our top three local, but one day we will get there," Francis said.

MVP's Nesta Carter will lead the charge in heat one of the mens' 200 metres, where he will be challenged by Racers' Mario Forsythe, G.C.Foster Colleges' Adolpus Nevers and Cuba's Victor Gonzales-Gallaso.

In heat II, the vastly improved Yohan Blake from Racers, who was very impressive at the UWI Track and Field Invitational meet where he stopped the clock at 20.37 seconds, in the half-lap event. He will be challenged by training partner Daniel Bailey of Antigua and possibly Powell, the former 100 metres world-record holder. The ever-improving Sheldon Mitchell from Swept Track Club should also makes his presence felt.

Another stellar event among the males should be the 400 metres which will see the Racers' pair of Edino Steele and Allodin Fothergill leading the way. Both will be looking to dominate, but Sprint Tech's Michael Mason, who lost in a close finish to Fothergill at the UWI Invitational meet, will be hoping to upset the Racers' pair. Commonwealth 200 metres silver medallist Lansford Spence of Sprint Tech will also compete.

one-lap event

Undoubtedly, the women's 400 metres should also attract a lot of attention, as following impressive times so far this season in the 800 metres, MVP's Kalise Spencer will compete in her first individual 400 metres of the season. She will be under the radar this year in the one-lap event and she will be challenged by the Racers duo of Davita Prendegast and Rosemarie Whyte, the former national champion.

In another individual event, the 100 metres for females, MVP Sherone Simpson will head the field with the likes of Aneisha McLaughlin, Carrie Russell , Cuba's Nedkis Carobona Gonzales and the United States Stephanie Durst, challenging her.

Among the males, the field will include national 100 metres champion Oshane Bailey of Akan Track club, Trinidad's Emmanuel Collander and the Racers Track club's duo of Remaldo rose and Kemar Bailey-Cole.