Weir looking to remain fast

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir is looking to confirm his status as a force in the 200 metres at today's Edmonton International Athletics Festival at the Foote Field, where he will lead Jamaica's contingent.

Weir, who romped to an impressive lifetime best of 19.79 seconds at the recent Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures Limited National Senior Championships at the National Stadium, despite slowing down before the end, will face training partner Jason Young in the half-lap event.

The lanky 23-year-old, who admitted to taking American Tyson Gay's 19.74 - recorded on the same day that he clocked his personal best time - as a source of motivation, is out to show the world that he is the real deal and that his London 2012 run was indeed no fluke.

"A lot of people said the medal in London was because it was not a strong field," Weir told reporters in Canada. "So I was trying to say I am a force to be reckoned with. I think Jamaica and the world got the message."

Turning his attention to Gay's effort, Weir said: "I was like, 'That's pretty good, to know Tyson came off surgery and ran so fast was like an inspiration to me. I looked at myself and said, 'Boy, Tyson can come off injury and run so fast, that ability is in everybody.' "

He will find a motivated Young, who, despite missing out on a finish in the automatic qualifying spots for Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Moscow and only going 20.20 so far this year, is coming off a season where he posted a time of 19.86. Weir's former Calabar High schoolmate Ramone McKenzie is also expected to feature in the 200m.

National 60m record holder Lerone Clarke will line up in the 100m along with 200m specialist Wallace Spearmon, who actually posted a personal best 9.97 in the event earlier this year and Jeff Demps.

busy evening

Three Jamaicans in Olympic relay silver medallist Samantha Henry-Robinson, Olympic relay gold medallist Aleen Bailey and Commonwealth Games champion Sheri-Ann Brooks, the only women in the field to dip below 11 seconds this year, will go up against Americans Mikele Barber and LaShauntea Moore.

Henry-Robinson is set for a busy evening as she is also entered in the 200m where she will compete against compatriot Patricia Hall, who should represent Jamaica in the 400m in Moscow, and Shalonda Solomon.

Shermaine Williams, who finished third at the national trials, will compete in the 100m hurdles, hoping to continue her improvement and sharpen up ahead of her World Championships assignment.