By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

OSLO, Norway: Jamaica's fastest man and woman in the world in 2007, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, will begin their hunt at winning a Jackpot prize of $1 million when they lead a host of Caribbean athletes who will be on show at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games - the first meeting of the 2007 IAAF Golden League in Bislett, on Friday.

Almost at full strength and only short of race fitness to perhaps repeat his incredible outing last year, Powell will match strides with fellow islanders and training partners Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago who has been having an excellent season thus far, reigning world silver medallist Michael Frater of Jamaica, and European sprint double champion Francis Obikwelu.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Powell said he would not be targeting a world record at the meeting, but rather to get the golden season off on winning note. He stated, however, that the fans inside the stadium can expect something different from what they have seen this early term.

In 2006, the Commonwealth Games champion opened up with a swift 9.96 seconds in the heat, before taking the finals in 9.98secs and again he will be looking for similar kickoff.

Watchful Simpson gets season going
Another Caribbean athlete who will be on the radar is Simpson, who has not been having the same dominant start she had in 2006.

However, ,she also had a slow start to the Golden League - being beaten outright here in the first race by Bahamian Debbie Ferguson before brushing off the defeat to establish herself as the best in 2006.

Ferguson will again be in the lineup, but this year may be different. Simpson has been forced out of several meetings this season because of muscle problems, but according reports reaching Caribbean Net News from the camp, the Jamaican is fit and ready to go.

Other than Simpson and Ferguson, the strong field also includes double European sprint champion Kim Gevaert of Belgium, the in-form Stephanie Durst (USA) who recent sped to an impressive sprint double in on Prague, on Wednesday and Commonwealth Games champion Sheri Ann Brooks of Jamaica who too has been on the improve under coach Marlon Malcolm this season.

Ivet Lalova, the Bulgarian record holder and Cayman Islands' Cydone Mothersill are also good competitor on the circuit and will be expected to force their way in the top half of the race.

Strong Quarter-mile and Hurdles field
The women's 400m and 100m Hurdles fields are also loaded with talents and spectators gathering inside the Bislett stadium, in the Norwegian capital on Friday are expecting to be treated with some world-class performances from both events.

The world had waited on Jamaican-born Sanya Richards to make her debut this season and when she finally did, it was impressive as she dominated when winning the women's 400m dash at the Prefontaine Classic last Sunday.

Opening up with a Sunday afternoon stroll of 50.74, after missing four meetings because of illness, Richards will be hoping to repeat her achievements last season, where she earned a share of the million dollar jackpot prize.

Listed amongst the starters down to give the World Athlete-of-the-Year a challenge are Bahamian World Indoor bronze medallist Christine Amertil, Jamaican Sherika Williams and 2001 World 400m champion Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal.

The sprint hurdles will see American in-form world champion Michelle Perry facing perhaps some of the best starters in the event. But after dismissing world-leader Virginia Powell in Oregon, last Sunday, the media has rightly started her favourite to win here.

Commonwealth Games champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton who, like countrywoman and training-mate Simpson, has had a tentative start this year, joins compatriot Delloreen Ennis-London, world indoor champion Derval O'Rourke (IRL) and Susanna Kallur (SWE) who are both good starters and run the first half of their race very quickly as the main contenders to the American.

Other Caribbean athletes scheduled to compete are: Guillermo Martinez (Cuba, men's Javelin), Korene Hinds and Mardrea Hyman (JAM, women's 3000m steeplechase) and Clement Campbell and Ainsley Waugh (JAM, men's 200m).