BOLT,
BLAKE, POWELL

KINGSTON
(JAM, Mar 17): The 9th edition of JN Jamaica Invitational (for second year part
of IAAF World Challenge) in Kingston scheduled for May 5 will offer the world´s
top sprinters. World record holder Usain Bolt will open his season there, the
event is not yet confirmed. But he will not clash with 100 m world gold
medalist Yohan Blake. They should compete in different events. The third
Jamaican star Asafa Powell is also confirmed to take part, but his event is
also not confirmed yet. Meet director and former olympic winner Don Quarrie
also confirmed the participation of female sprinters world champion 2011
Carmelita Jeter and olympic winner 2008 Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, the events
here will be determined later. Another olympic winner Melaine Walker is set for
400 m hurdles and Grenada´s world gold medalist from Daegu Kirani James should
run the 400 m. Quarrie also informed that 19 events will be contested on the
IAAF Challenge schedule, in addition to 4x100m and 4x400m relays for local
high-school teams. Bolt who is always excited to run in front of his home crowd
in Jamaica, said „It is always a great privilege to run in front of my
home fans. There is always great energy and excitement in the stadium and I will
look to put on a good show for the fans. This will be my first big meet of
2012 as I prepare to defend my titles in the Olympic Games in London in
August.” Bolt has been previously confirmed for the Golden Spike in Ostrava,
Golden Gala in Rome and Bislett Games in Oslo. With the help from Jamaica
Gleaner and Track Alerts.

TADESE
RETURNS TO LISBON

LISBON
(POR): World record holder Zersenay Tadese will return on Sunday, March 25 to
the 22nd edition of Lisbon Half Marathon and will try for his third win in a row.
He won here in 2010 with current world record 58:23 and returned in 2011 with
another fast time of 58:30. Another previous winner (2003, 2006, 2009) Kenyan
Martin Lel is also scheduled to run. Other top names include from Eritrea
Teklemariam Mehdin and Kidane Tadese, from Ethiopia Abraham Feleke and Dino
Sefir and from Kenyans Lucas Rotich, Peter Kamais, Titus Masai, Gideon Ngatuny and
John Mwangangi. Home runners will be headed by Youssef El Kalai, Manuel Damiao
and Jose Rocha. Daegu World marathon champion Edna Kiplagat leads the women
entries together with team-mates Peninah Arusei (winner here in 2010), Rita
Jeptoo (winner here in 2007), Lineth Chepkurui, world medalist Priscah Jeptoo,
Joyce Chepkirui and Pauline Njeri. Ethiopian top name is Aselefech Mergia. US
Olympic 10k medalist and marathon trials winner Shalane Flanagan is leading the
non-African entries, also there Italian Nadia Ejaffini and Dutch Lornah
Kiplagat. Group of home runners with Dulce Felix, Analia Rosa, Ines Monteiro
and Leonor Carneiro. The race has since 2008 new course which is according to
the rules. And on that the fastest women time is 1:08:28 by Aberu Kebede last
year. But in 2001 at the former course (considered excessive aided by the drop
and possibly tail winds) Susan Chepkemei achieved 1:05:44.

OTHER NEWS

LAUSANNE
(SUI): Following a discussion on the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of
Panama, the IOC executive board declared that the situation with the NOC had
been fully normalised. That means doors open for long jump title defender
Irving Saladino. Also Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia was selected as the sole nominee
to host the 127th IOC Session, in 2015. The vote will take place at the next
IOC Session, in London, this July.

BERLIN
(GER): On Sunday when new German president will be elected also two track
athletes will give their votes in Berlin´s Reichstag. Parties nominated its
representatives to elect and among them also European champions Christian Reif
and Linda Stahl. It is expected that Joachim Gauck will be the new German
President.

RESULTS

CHONGQING
(CHN, Mar 17): World Championships 2011 marathon 8th placer Wang Jiali improved
to 2:22:41 lifetime best when she won the Chongqing International Marathon
which also served as Chinese National Championships and Olympic Marathon Trials
for women. Informs Tilastopaja. Her previous mark was 2:26:12 when winning in
Dalian in April 2011. Second Zhou Chunxiu in 2:23:42 and third Zhu Xiaolin
2:24:19. Kenyan Cosmers Kemboi was the best male runner in 2:10:03.

TUCSON
(USA, Mar 16): New Canadian hammer record during first day of Willie Williams
Classic with impressive 75.04 by Sultana Frizell (27). She improved her own
national mark 72.24 from 2010 achieved in German Frankisch-Crumbach. Frizell is
current Commonwealth Games winner from 2010, silver medalist from Pan-Am Games
2011 and Worlds 2009 finalist.

CHARLOTTE
(USA, Mar 16): Relay world indoor champion from Istanbul Manteo Mitchell
improved his 100 m best to 10.39 (+0.6) and came close to his 200 m best with
20.79 (+1.4) at the 49er Classic meet. Fred Townsend got 13.66 (+0.8) in the
110 m hurdles, all marks achieved during first day of the event in heats.

FORTH
WORTH (USA, Mar 16): Former olympic and world winner Jeremy Wariner is
continuing with 200 m races during the early season. At TCU Invitational he won
his race with 20.66 with +2.6 wind. Another world medalist Wallace Spearmon who
is returning from injury clocked good 10.06 in the 100 m, but aided with +2.8.
In another section Charles Silmon clocked so far the fastest 100 m of 2012 with
10.18 (+1.5). Women sprints also fast and windy. Cholanda Goodman 11.23 (+3.4)
and in another race coming from European winter Tameka Williams of St. Kitts
11.23 (+3.5) beating Jamaican 400 m runner Patricia Hall (11.39). Nicole Denby
got 12.90 (+3.2) in the hurdles and Briton Lorraine Ugen leaped to windy 683
(+2.8, legal 629) in the long jump.

TAMPA
(USA, Mar 16): Dentarius Locke scored a sprint double at Bulls
Invitational with 10.24 (+2.5) and 20.94 (-1.1). Bahamian 400 m runner and
olympic medalist from Beijing Michael Mathieu posted fast but windy 10.22
(+2.7) in another 100 m race.

WINSTON
SALEM (USA, Mar 16): US indoor 400 m record holder Francena McCorory who
competed only at one meet during the indoor season opened with 52.58 at Wake
Forest Open first day. Last year US junior champion Edward Dudley improved to
225 in the high jump.

WINFIELD
(USA, Mar 15): Last year high schooler Darryl Brown improved at Southwestern
Invitational to 20.71 (+1.9) in the 200 m.

SYDNEY
(AUS, Mar 17): Sara Klein won the 400 m hurdles during day four of the
Australian Junior Athletics Championships in new meet record 58.02. Former best
was held by Jana Pittman.

JERUSALEM
(ISR, Mar 16): Kenyan David Cherono won the 5th Jerusalem International
Marathon setting a course record 2:19:52. Some 800 finished the race, held
on a hilly course and under rainy and windy weather. Second Ethiopian
Gudeta Gemechu Biratu (2:22:42). In women category Mihret Anamo of Ethiopia won
in 2:48:38 ahead of European runners, Kamila Khanipova of Russia (2:49:20) and
Alena Vinitskaya of Belarus (2:50:33). Informs David Eiger.

CEJKOVICE
(CZE, Mar 16): In the final special indoor high jump meet in the country wins
for Jaroslav Baba 222 and Oldriska Maresova in new personal best of 191 cm.