BY ANTHONY FOSTER, Freelance Writer
( L - R ) Michael Blackwood and Lacena Golding-Clarke - FILE
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, 400m runner Michael Black-wood and sprint hurdler Lacena Golding-Clarke, expect to perform well at tomorrow's third staging of the Jamaica Inter-national Invitational, an Area Permit Meet, at the National Stadium.
Blackwood, who failed to defend the Commonwealth Games title he won in Manchester (2002), because of a stomach infection, which affected his preparation, said he is now ready.
"I am pleased with where I am at now, in terms of fitness level," Blackwood told STAR Sports. "Right now, I am way ahead of last year," he added.
"I think I have at least 44.7 in me right now," said the former world number two-ranked whose personal best is 44.60.
Looking ahead of tomorrow's field, where he is down to face defending champion LaShawn Merritt, World Championships silver medallist Andrew Rock, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jermaine Gonzales and Davian Clarke, Blackwood said he just wants to do his best.
"I feel it's going to be a challenge against a good field. Hopefully I will come out victorious. I am just going out there to do my best," he said.
Meanwhile, Golding-Clarke, who like Blackwood did light training at Stadium East yesterday, said tomorrow's 100m hurdles race will be special.
"We (Jamaican sprint hurdlers) always have something special in store running here at the stadium and competing against other athletes.
"For me and my other teammates - Brigitte (Foster-Hylton), Delloreen (Ennis-London), Vonette (Dixon) and Toni-Ann (Doiley) - we are going out there to do our very best and we are going to try and fill the top five placings."
Golding, the 2002 Common-wealth champion and 2004 Olympic finalist added: "I am training really hard, very well. Technically, I have been learning a lot of stuff, so hopefully I can go out there and do my very best and produce a fast time."
Several overseas-based Jamaican athletes have already arrived for tomorrow's big meet.
They include Danny McFarlane, Olympian Dean Griffiths, Davian Clarke, Shevon Stoddart, 2006 Commonwealth Games 100m champion Sheri-Ann Brooks, Ricardo Melbourne, Lorraine Fenton, Peta-Gaye Dowdie, Olympic 200m gold medallist Veronica Campbell and Commonwealth Games 200m champion Omar Brown.
World 100m champion Lauryn Williams, LaShawn Merritt, Keron Clement, Luke Watson, Greg Foster, Richard Smith, Dee Dee Trotter, Todd Leaky and Robert Hughes are some of the American athletes who arrived yesterday.
Kenyan 800m runners Bernard Kiptun and Justus Koech are also in the island. Tomorrow's meet will feature world 100m record holder Asafa Powell, world junior 200m record holder Usain Bolt and a big 200m rematch between Commonwealth champion Sherone Simpson and Campbell, the silver medallist.
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