KINGSTON, Jamaica – Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse has been confirmed for the 2016 edition of the Jamaica International Invitational IAAF World Challenge meeting on May 7, at Kingston’s National Stadium.
The IAAF World Championships bronze medallist from Beijing, China, last year, was confirmed to the 200m field on Friday, which will see him joining Jamaican Asafa Powell.
De Grasse, who enjoyed breakthrough season at the collegiate and international level last term, owns a personal best of 9.92 seconds for the 100m, which he used to share the bronze medal with USA’s Trayvon Bromell at the Worlds last season.
Both sprinters finished behind world record holder Usain Bolt and American Justin Gatlin in Beijing.
The Canadian confirmation for the Jamaica International Invitational means he has a scheduled date to race against former world record holder Asafa Powell, who won this event last season in 9.84 seconds.
Powell, who finished outside the medals in Beijing, has once again pushed out a strong start to his season — running 6.44 seconds for the 60m, but the Jamaican failed to complete the job at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland recently, after finished second to Bromell.
American Michael Rodgers is set to race in the men’s 100m, an event in which he owns a personal best time of 9.85 seconds.
Organizers of the meet also confirmed earlier this month that Olympic and World 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, as well as compatriot and training partner Elaine Thompson, the world 200m silver medallist, have both been confirmed to compete at the meeting.
On Sunday, the Jamaica Observer is reporting that Pan-American 100m champion Sharon Simpson, another world-class Jamaican female sprinter, will also compete at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in May.
The Jamaica International Invitational has always produced world-class performances and this year’s meet is expected to bring the same.
