Ready for Spearmon match-up

Bolt, the World Junior record holder at 19.93, clocked an impressive 20.28 seconds en route to his third consecutive win in the half-lap race, following his victories in Fort-de-France and Kingston respectively, and he's confident in getting revenge against the current world-leader at the 2nd Annual Reebok Grand Prix in New York on Saturday, June 3.

The lanky 19-year-old sprinter acknowledged the talent of Spearmon, who defeated him in their last clash in London, last year, but claimed that this year he's more focused and is ready to challenge anyone.

"He's a good athlete," Bolt said, referring to his main challenger Spearmon. However, he added "this year is a different year," in terms of competition.

"I plan on running under 20 seconds, the fastest time for the year."

No sub-20 but still happy

Despite not accomplishing his sub-20 meet goal in Ostrava, the Jamaican half-lap star was delighted with the victory, especially after setting a record in Europe.

"I am very happy to compete here in Ostrava and to run a good race," Bolt was quoted as saying in the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper after breaking the meet record of 20.30 set by American Justin Gatlin in 2004.

"I did not know the meet record belonged to Gatlin. But I am happy to have a meet record in Europe," he said after the race.

Bolt, who became the youngest World Junior champion when he flashed to an incredible 20.61 in Kingston, at just age 15, said he wants to race more on circuit in his preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

"This year I want to run as much as possible all around Europe and the Caribbean," he said. "My goal for this year is to mainly gain race experience. Next year I will run mainly the 200m but also the 400m at some meetings.

"My coach (Glen Mills) would like me to race the 200m and 400m in 2008. I think the 400m will be a good race for me."

Kicking off Caribbean Heritage Month

Recently passed by the United States Senate, House Concurrent Resolution 71 declares June the month to celebrate the contributions of Caribbean nationals to the United States.

Kicking off a month-long Caribbean culture in the United States, the Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium in New York City will feature over 20 Caribbean athletes, including reigning Olympic champions Veronica Campbell of Jamaica and Tonique Darling from the Bahamas.

Other regional athletes stars expected to compete at the meet are Sheri-Ann Brooks, the 2006 Commonwealth Games 100m gold medalist from Jamaica; Tiandra Ponteen of St. Kitts & Nevis; Dion Crabbe of the British Virgin Islands; and Trinidadian mid-distance runner Sheridan Kirk.

The meeting is the fourth stop in USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series and it will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. ET.

Ferguson happy with current form

Meanwhile, Debbie Ferguson, still celebrating her season's best 11.14 victory in the women's 100m in Ostrava, said she was happy to get back on the track and produce such a time, especially after she was forced to miss the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, because she did not recover fully from a back operation she had in 2005.

"I'm just excited to be back," Ferguson, the 2002 Commonwealth Games sprint double champion from Manchester, England said. "(To) beat these girls – Me’Lisa (Barber) and Stephanie (Durst) who have both been running well is really exciting."

Before her run on Tuesday, the Bahamian 2000 Sydney Olympic relay gold medallist had a previous seasonal best of 11.28 set at the Jamaica International Invitational on May 6.