Track and field fans are in for a treat this Saturday at Velocity Fest 16, where Nigerian sprint sensation Tobi Amusan and Jamaican speedster Ackeem Blake are set to make their highly anticipated 100m debuts. The meet, scheduled to take place at the Ashenheim Stadium at Jamaica College in Kingston, will also feature a blockbuster 400m showdown between Jamaica’s top two 400m hurdlers, Roshawn Clarke and Malik James-King.
Amusan, the reigning 100m hurdles world record holder and 2022 World Champion, will test her flat speed against rising Jamaican sprint star Serena Cole in a much-anticipated matchup. The Nigerian, who boasts an impressive 11.10 personal best, has been training in Jamaica under the legendary Glen Mills since late last year and will now get the chance to show her progress in the short sprint. Cole, who has a best of 11.13, will not make it easy, setting up what should be a thrilling contest.
Also among the 100m heats, Bahamian sprint powerhouse Anthonique Strachan will go head-to-head with Jamaican hurdler Crystal Morrison in another must-watch race.
Meanwhile, Ackeem Blake, fresh off his bronze-medal performance in the 60m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships, will make his season debut over 100m after focusing on the 200m in his early preparations. Blake, who opted to skip the ongoing World Indoor Championships in China, is gearing up for what he and coach Michael Frater hope will be a breakout season in 2025.
Adding to the excitement, former Calabar High star Dejour Russell will line up in a stacked 100m heat alongside Olympian-turned-bobsleigh-athlete Tyquendo Tracey and J'Sean Sealy of Barbados. Russell, once one of Jamaica’s most promising young sprint hurdlers, will be looking to reassert himself on the track after years of inconsistency.
Perhaps, the most anticipated race of the meet, however, could very well be the men’s 400m 'A' final, where national and World U20 record holder Roshawn Clarke in the 400m hurdles will go head-to-head with Malik James-King, the second-fastest Jamaican 400m hurdler. With both men deep into their preparations for the inaugural Grand Slam Track Series set to begin in Kingston on April 4, this race is expected to provide a thrilling preview of what’s to come.
Olympian Deandre Watkin, Javier Brown, and Demar Murray will also be in the mix, ensuring a fiercely contested battle for the top spot. Clarke, the breakout star of 2023, will be looking to lay down an early marker, while James-King, his biggest domestic rival, will be eager to close the gap.
The Tracey twins, Tina and Tia, are set to take on a high-calibre field in the women’s 200m final. Among their challengers will be Barbadian two-time World Championship 400m bronze medalist Sada Williams, Olympic 400m hurdles finalist Shiann Salmon, Roneisha McGregor, and sprint standout Kemba Nelson.
Meanwhile, two-time World Championship 400m hurdler Rushell Clayton will kick off her season in the 400m, facing off against the likes of Shana-Kaye Anderson and Kelly-Ann Beckford.
With action kicking off at 4:00 pm and culminating in the 100m finals at 8:00 pm, Velocity Fest 16 is set to deliver an electrifying evening of top-tier track and field competition. From sprint showdowns to thrilling head-to-head battles, fans can expect high-intensity racing as athletes fine-tune their form ahead of a crucial outdoor season.