Thompson to battle two African sprint stars

NEW sprint star Kishane Thompson will face two of Africa's top sprinters when he lines up in the 100 metres at today's Gyulai Istvan Memorial World Continental Gold meet in Szekesfeherver, Hungary.

Thompson, the world leader in the 100 metres, with 9.77 seconds and national sprint double winner Shericka Jackson are among 16 Jamaicans who will compete at the meet.

All eyes will, however, be on Thompson who hinted that he could have gone even faster than the 9.77 which he clocked to earn his first national 100m crown.

The 22-year-old's coach, the outstanding Stephen Francis, is convinced Thompson can get down to 9.6.

"Based on what I saw him do in the final (at the National Championships), if he had maintained the speed he did between 40m and 60m, he would have run a 9.6 or a 9.70. Right now, for him and his future, what he needs to do is become an Olympic medallist first and then plan everything else," Francis said during a recent interview.

Today he faces South Africa's 30 year-old Akani Simbine, with a personal best 9.84 for the 100m and 21 year-old Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who has a personal best of 9.88. Also included in the race is American Ronnie Baker whose personal best is 9.83.

Jackson, who will be aiming for gold in the women's 200 metres at the Paris Olympic Games to go with her World Championships win last year, will be contesting the half-lap event today at a meet where she has won the event for the past three years. Jackson who has a season's best of 22.29 seconds will be up against St Lucia's Julien Alfred, training partner Natasha Morrison and Lanae-Tava Thomas of Jamaica and Great Britain's Daryll Neita.

Following her exploits at the National Championships where she finished second in the women's 100m, Tia Clayton (personal best 10.86) will lead four Jamaicans in the women's event. Her twin sister Tina, Natasha Morrison and Krystal Sloley will start here. Americans Tamara Clarke and Tamari Davis who have both gone sub 11 seconds this season will also contest the event.

Other Jamaicans who will contest events on the track are Andrew Hudson in the men's 200m and Sean Bailey in the 400m.

Bailey will clash with Steven Gardiner of The Bahamas who has gone 44.39 seconds in the event this season.

Several Jamaicans will also be involved in field events. National champion Ackeila Smith will contest the women's long jump, Tajay Gayle will be in action in the men's long jump while Kristoff Bryan will compete the men's high jump with Rajindra Campbell down to contest the men's shot put.