Blake, VCB Get Pre-Olympic Test

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

World 100m champion Yohan Blake and Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown are among several Jamaicans down to compete at the EA Classic Spitzenleichtathletik meet in Lucerne later today, as the pair continue their fine-tuning ahead of the Olympic Games.

Blake will be making his first appearance since his back-to-back victories over triple Olympic champion and training partner Usain Bolt at the Jamaican trials in a 100m line-up that should keep him honest.

The Racers Track Club man has had the best year of his young professional career, winning gold in Daegu, South Korea, last year, before lowering his 100m personal best from 9.82 to 9.75 and his 200m mark to 19.26 - the second-fastest time in history.

Such performances have propelled the former St Jago High star into the spotlight as Bolt's number one contender for gold in London.

Also facing the starter in the 100m are fellow Jamaicans Michael Frater and Lerone Clarke, along with improving Cayman Islands sprinter Kemar Hyman, who with a strong but legal tailwind pushing him along posted a personal best 9.95 a few days ago at a meet in Madrid, Spain.

The United States' 200m specialist, Wallace Spearmon, who will be representing the United States in the half-lap event in London, will also feature in the 100m.

VCB, Weir eye wins

Trinidad and Tobago's IAAF World Championships bronze medallist, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, is expected to dominate the female field.

Veronica Campbell-Brown is entered in the 200m as she looks to bounce back and announce her readiness to defend her Olympic title, after suffering defeats in the 100m and 200m at the national trials a few weeks ago.

New kid on the block, Warren Weir, whose third-place finish in Kingston punched his spot on Jamaica's Olympic team, will look to continue his preparation for his first Olympic Games and confirm his status as a sub-20 athlete when he lines up in the men's 200m.

Weir, who clocked 19.99 during the trials, has been making remarkable progress in the event - which he only took up a year ago - after switching from the sprint hurdles due to injury issues.

Andrew Riley will make his professional debut in Europe in the 100m hurdles in a tough field that includes Olympic bronze medallist Donald Oliver and Antwon Hicks.

Riley, who only recently tied down a deal with German sports good manufacturers PUMA, finished second at the national trials behind Hansle Parchment, with a personal best 13.19.