RAYMOND GRAHAM, Star Writer

Despite winning at the last two meets, Camperdown's Petagaye Williams' quality is expected to be severely tested by an experienced field at today's Youngster Gold-smith Classics at the GC Foster College today.

The Goldsmith Classics will be one of two meets on today with the JAAA/Puma Development meet at Jamalco also on the cards. With a much bigger programme, most eyes are expected to turn towards the GC Foster meet, with the Girl's Class II 100 metre hurdles worthy of special attention. Most of the country's promising female young hurdlers are expected to have a battle royal in what is expected to be a mouth-watering clash.

Williams had two outstanding performances at the Wata/JC Meet and the Central Hurdles and Relay Meet where she recorded impressive times of 13.91 and 13.60 seconds to win on both occasions. The hurdler is in pole position to take today's contest but things will not be easy.

The line-up is expected to include the likes of Shennel Francis of St Jago, Yanique Thompson of Holmwood Technical, Tatiana Wolfe of Alpha Academy, Claudette Allen of Edwin Allen High, and Chenifa Bartlett of St Elizabeth Technical.

big improvement

Despite finishing behind Williams on both occasions, Francis is the most experienced in the field and after a big improvement at the Central Hurdles Meet, where she recorded 13.77 seconds, she could do even better here. Thompson, who like Wiliams is doing her first year in the Class, has not been beaten in the sprint hurdle since doing the event in Class IV and at the Central Hurdles Meet finished third overall after winning her heat in 13.95 seconds.

In the Class I 100 metres hurdles, Chrisdale McCarthy of St Jago High and Megan Simmonds of St Andrew High will renew their rivalry. Both represented the country at the World Youth Championships last year, and despite it being their first year in the Class, they will be tough to separate as they are a cut above the rest.

Kingston College's Stefan Fennell looks a safe bet in the boy's 110 metres hurdles Class I event, as he will be defending his title following victory last year at the UWI Usain Bolt Stadium. A many-time national junior representative, Fennell showed his class at GC Foster College at the Central Hurdles Meet in his first appearance when he clocked 13.91 seconds to win overall. He will renew rivalry with a determined Yannick Hart of Wolmer's Boys', who was second overall at the Central Hurdles Meet with 14.06 seconds. There will also be field events as there will be shot put Open for girls and Class I and II boys' triple jump open, boys and girls' javelin open and girls' long jump in all classes.