THE race for the approximately 60 places on the Jamaican team to this year’s Olympic Games to be held in London, England, in just under a month’s time is set to get underway today.

Just one final, the men’s javelin, is scheduled to be contested today, the first day of the four-day JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Trials at the National Stadium. But there, however, will be interest in the first two rounds of the men’s 100m that will see Olympic champion Usain Bolt taking on World champion Yohan Blake, with former world record holder Asafa Powell expected to be in the mix come tomorrow night’s final.

The first round of the women’s 100m, as well as the first round of the 400m for both male and female, are set to be contested this afternoon following the first rounds of the 400m hurdles for male and female and the first round of the men’s 100m this morning.

The build-up to the championships was intensified after members of the media and some coaches opposed accreditation processing fees that were being charged by the JAAA to attend the event.

A meeting between senior members of the media and the JAAA yesterday, however, ironed out an understanding under which the media will carry out its duties at the meet that has attracted world wide interest.

Today, 57 men, including seven who have run under 10.00 seconds, are entered in the 100m race, while an eighth Nickel Ashmeade, who ran a personal best 9.93 seconds earlier this year, has only been entered in the 200m.

The top 24 men have been given byes through the first round and will advance to this afternoon’s second round where they will be joined by the top eight from the first round for the quarterfinals set to start at 7:15 pm.

In addition to Bolt, Blake and Powell, a number of other athletes will be seeking spots on the team to London and will be led by relay gold medallists Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, World University Games gold medallist Jacques Harvey, as well as Commonwealth Games and Pan-American Championships 100m winner Lerone Clarke will all be gunning for places on the team.

Defending Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will head the women’s list that includes former world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, Olympic silver medallists Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson, as well as Sheri-Ann Brooks, who returned to the sport this season after some time off, Schillonie Calvert and Carrie Russell, the World University and Penn Relays Collegiate champion.

After his near miss with fourth place in last year’s Daegu World Championships, National Record holder Jermaine Gonzales and Novelene Williams Mills, who started the season with a brilliant 49.99 seconds at the JAAA/JII meet in May, are the favourites for the 400m titles.

Both are expected to be seriously challenged all the way for the titles.

Former Vere Technical runner Jermaine Gayle, who won the B race at the May meet, is the second ranked Jamaican so far this season, while Edino Steele, US College based Akino Ming and Richardo Chambers should be the main contenders in the men’s race.

Olympic silver medallists Shericka Williams has not shown much so far this season but could come good this weekend, while former national champion Rosemarie Whyte, Patricia Hall, who ran a personal best 50.71 seconds in Oslo earlier this month, World Indoors semi-finalist Dominique Blake and World Championships relay medallists Sherifa Lloyd and Davita Prendergast are all expected to make the final interesting.

Leford Green, who won both the 400m and 400m hurdles last year, will run just the hurdles race this year, but will have to contend with Roxroy Cato, the top Jamaican this year so far with a personal best 49.0 seconds, Josef Robertson, Isa Phillips and Adrian Findlay, all of whom have run faster this year.

Olympic champion Melaine Walker and IAAF Diamond League champion Kaliese Spencer are the class of the women’s 400m hurdles field with the likes of Ristananna Tracey, Shevon Stoddart and Daniel Dowie expected to compete for the third spot.