Reigning Olympic bronze medallist Rasheed Broadbell is scheduled to open his season today in the men’s 110m hurdles at Velocity Fest at Jamaica’s National Stadium.

It is to be Broadbell’s first outing under legendary track and field coach Stephen Francis, after returning to the MVP Track and Field Club at the end of last season.

The 23-year-old rejoined the University of Technology-based MVP after ending his three-year stint with Reynaldo Walcott at Elite Performance Track Club.

Broadbell is set to face his MVP teammate Odario Phillips, along with Cristian Mota and Yojan Chaverra of Academia Felix Sanchez, and Joel Bryan of The University of the West Indies.

In addition to his Olympic bronze medal, Broadbell, a former St Jago High standout, won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and claimed national titles in 2023 and 2024. He has a personal best of 12.94 seconds.

Meanwhile, Olympian Ackeem Blake and Bryan Levell are to lead a stacked field contesting the men’s 100m. The event is expected to also include former national champion Tyquendo Tracey, Kadrian Goldson, Brendon Rodney of Canada, Emanuel Archibald of Guyana, Ramone Barnswell, Julian Forte, DeAndre Daley, Michael Campbell, Christopher Scott, and Jhevaughn Matterson.

Olympians Kemba Nelson and Natasha Morrison are to headline a strong field of 16 women set to compete in the women’s 100m. The line-up also includes former world Under-20 100m champion Tina Clayton, Jonielle Smith, Serena Cole, Jura Levy, and Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas.

Antonio Watson, the 2023 400m world champion, is set to line up in the men’s 200m in which he is expected to face-off against the likes of former world 100m champion Yohan Blake, along with Rusheen McDonald, Zandrion Barnes, Michael Sharpe, and Adrian Kerr.

In the women’s 200m event, Tia Clayton, who finished seventh in the 100m final at the 2024 Olympic Games, is set to lead a field of eight competitors. The race should also feature Ashanti Moore, Roneisha McGregor, and Alliah Baker.

Reigning national 400m champion Deandre Watkin is down to compete in the one-lap event alongside Demish Gaye, Delano Kennedy, Javier Brown, and Wendell Miller of The Bahamas.

In the women’s 400m, Jodean Williams, Ronda Whyte, Candice McLeod, Sada Williams, and Shiann Salmon are set to face the starter.

In the field events, Shanieka Ricketts, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games triple jump silver medallist, is to compete alongside Jade-Ann Dawkins. Olympian Chad Wright is listed to contest the men’s discus throw alongside Alex Watkins, Moses Parkinson, and Roy Dudley.

— Robert Bailey