Christine Ohuruogu - Ricardo Makyn

RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

The National Stadium will be buzzing with excitement today as a galaxy of local and International stars will be on show as the Jamaica international Invitational (JII) Meet, an IAAF World Challenge Meet, will take centre stage, starting at 5:45 pm with the 100 metres for Masters Men, and ending at 9:28 pm with the Men's International 400 metres.

It is not certain if all the expected athletes have turned up for today's event as it was very difficult to get even a provisional starting list from the organisers.

However, several of the athletes who will be on show were seen working out inside the National Stadium yesterday. These included, Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson who will run in the men's 100m, 400m athletes Kevin and Jonathon Borlee of Belgium, 110m hurdler Andrew Riley, and Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain who will make her season debut, along with 400m hurdler, Nikita Tracey.

One event which will attract a lot of attention today will be the women's 400m as the country's two best, Novlene Williams-Mills and Stephanie McPherson will face off with the United States duo of Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross. It is McCorory's second visit to Jamaica and the former outstanding Hampton University athlete will be hoping to repeat.

Richards-Ross will want to make up for a disappointing fifth a year ago.

She is in great form following her World Relays performance where she helped the United States to win the 4x400m and distance medley relays.

Another good run is expected from McPherson. It will be interesting to see what Ohuruogu does.

Very close finish

After losing to the Dominican Republic's Lugulin Santos a year ago in a very close finish in the men's 400m, the USA's Lashawn Merritt will be hoping to go one place better, despite an average season so far.

It should be a welcome return for Asafa Powell when he lines up in the men's 100m.

Powell will be making his first appearance in more than two years on local soil and following a good win in Guadeloupe a week ago, will want to send a strong message as he faces his former training partner, Nesta Carter, Thompson, and Ryan Bailey, who anchored the United States men's 4x100 metres to victory over Jamaica in the Bahamas.

Elaine Thompson is expected to face the starter in the women's equivalent.

Thompson posted a world leading 10.92 seconds a few weeks ago at the NCB Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships and the MVP star is expected to put on another fine show today .

World Championships double sprint champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will grace the track in the women's 200m while rising sprinter, Julian Forte of Utech will do so in the men's event.

Following a sensational run at the Drake Relays, world leader in the women's 100m hurdles, Jasmine Strowers of the United States, will be on show.

Stowers defeated a world class field which included the likes of Dawn Harper, Brianna Rollins and Queen Harrison and it will be interesting to see what the Jamaicans in the likes of sisters, Danielle and Shermaine Williams have to offer here.