Kelvin 'N'
Simplex sprinter Keston Bledman, the reigning national champion, is expected to start his defence of the Men's 100 metres title on Friday at the NGC/NAAA Open Championships at the Hasely Crawford in Mucurapo.
Bledman, who clocked 10.20 seconds to deny Abilene Wild Cats' Kyle Greaux (10.21) and Simplex teammate Jalen Purcell (10.30), will start as favourite and the field is expected to be very competitive for the event, which is scheduled to start from 6 pm.
Six heats in the men’s 100m event will also be on the cards.
In the 200 metres event, 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Jereem Richards will be seeking to turn the tables on Greaux, the reigning half-lap champion who upset him in last year's title run. Greaux clocked 20.31 seconds to stop the clock, while Richards, running for Abilene, recorded 20.35 and Purcell, who was the only runner to secure two sprint medals among the men, recorded 21.12 seconds for his second bronze medal of last year's three-day meeting.
Among the women, reigning national and Commonwealth Games champion and the NAAA top athlete for 2018 Michelle-Lee Ahye is also expected to show up to defend her titles. Ahye will attempt to better her mark of 10.82 seconds when she goes to the line against Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Zenith, Reyare Thomas of Abilene and Makaria Durant of Simplex Athletic Club.
Machel Cedeno will also attempt to win back his crown in the men's 400 metres, which he did not defend last year due to injury. The Simplex Athletic Club athlete looks difficult to beat and will have his main opposition from Deon Lendore of Abilene. Also expected to make a bold showing is Olympian Renny Quow of Zenith Athletic Club.
Among the four events on Friday's programme is the hammer throw for men and women, the quarter-mile preliminaries and women’s pole vault. In the women’s hammer throw, Angel Coombs will take on Gabrielle Alexis and Diamond Thomas.