Caribbean athletes eye success at NYC Grand Prix

Several English-speaking Caribbean athletes are expected to add flavor with a full program of sprints set to wet the appetite at the second World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in the United States this season.

The men’s and women’s 100, 200, and 400 metres, as well as the sprint hurdles will ensure that the shorter events will be the focus of the USATF New York City Grand Prix at the Ichan Stadium on Randall’s Island.

Rising Surinamese talent Issam Asinga and Eric Harrison of Trinidad and Tobago will be hoping to upset American Noah Lyle’s in the men’s 200m, as the final event on the schedule.

Lyle’s won this race in a stunning 19.61 seconds last year, and the two time world champion heads to this meet off the back of a 100 victory in Paris and a world-leading 19.67 over 200 in Kingston earlier this month.

Ackeem Blake of Jamaica will come face to face with American Christian Coleman in a men’s 100 dash. This will also include Jamaican Kadrian Goldson.

Jamaican sprint darling Briana Williams will have her hands full when she will be the only non-American to face the starter for the women’s 100. Her challengers include Olympic 200 bronze medallist Gabby Thomas, Alexia Hobbs, Melissa Jefferson and Morolake Akinosun.

Three Jamaicans — Charokee Young, Junelle Bromfield and Ashley Williams will line up for the start of the women’s 400.

Thomas will lead the American challenge that also includes Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world and Olympic 400 hurdles champion.

Another Jamaican trio, Sean Bailey, Zandrion Barnes and Karyme Bartley will carry the torch in the men’s 400, where Americans Trevor Stewart and Noah Williams appear their strongest rivals.

Former world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica and her compatriot, Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper will try to turn back American challenge in the women’s 100 hurdles that features former world record-holder Kendra Harrison.

Danniel Thomas-Dodd of Jamaica will be out to upstage the competition along Portious Warren of Trinidad and Tobago in the women’s shot putt.