BY ANTHONY FOSTER, Freelance Writer
Asafa Powell - REUTERS
ASAFA POWELL HAS a good chance of winning his first 200 metres national title at this weekend's Supreme Ventures Limited national championships.
The three-day championships which get going today at the National Stadium, begin at 4:00 p.m. each day.
With in-form Usain Bolt not competing, Powell's strongest challenge is expected from club-mate Ainsley Waugh and Clement Campbell.
"I am going there to try and win as comfortably as possible," said the man who ran 9.77 on June 11 to equal the world record he already shared with American Justin Gatlin.
"I just don't want to go out there and pressure my groin or my leg on the curve," added Powell who pulled up the last time he ran a 200m.
Powell's exclusion from the 100m gives Frater, the World Championships silver medallist, a chance for his first national title.
Frater said he is aiming at a sub-10 clocking, which would be his first.
TAKE ADVANTAGE
"Since we don't have anything running for, World Championships or Olympics, I am just going out there to see if I can properly execute a race and just run as fast as I can.
"This year it's all about running fast times and that's what I am going out there for, to run a sub-10 hopefully," Frater stated.
On the women's side, Sherone Simpson should take advantage of Veronica Campbell's absence to secure the sprint double.
"I am just going out there to win both (races), with special focus on the 100m," Simpson said.
The women's 100m hurdles should provide its usual nail-biting finale. Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Lacena Golding-Clarke and Vonette Dixon should once again battle to cross the line first in this event.
Foster-Hylton said: "I am expecting a good performance. I can't say how fast, but it is always good to run in Kingston.
"I have been taught by my coach Stephen Francis, never to worry about my opponents, because at the end of the day it is about what I do in my lane, over my 10 hurdles and that's what I am focusing on," she said.
The men's and women's 400m should also be hot. Davian Clarke, Jermaine Gonzales and Sanjay Ayre should provide the spark, while Shericka Williams, Lorain Fenton, Novlene Williams, Clora Williams and teenager Sonita Sutherland should be among the top four.
Danny McFarlane and Kemel Thompson should battle in the men's 400m hurdles, while Melaine Walker, Kaleise Spencer and Sherene Pinnock should do likewise in the women's equivalent.
Kenia Sinclair should continue her dominance in the women's 800m.
The junior stars down to compete are Schillonie Calvert, Remaldo Rose, Yohan Blake, Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, Anastacia Leroy, and Josef Robertson, among others.
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