( L - R ) Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt

The men's 100 metres showdown between Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell is billed to be the highlight of the three-day National Senior Championships, which gets under way this afternoon at the National Stadium.

Big prize on the weekend are places on the national team to the prestigious August 15-23 IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

While most of the spotlight will be on the current and former world 100m-record holders, there are a number of other events which should be very competitive. They include the women's 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 100m hurdles, triple jump, along with the men's 400m, 400m hurdles and long jump.

Supreme fitness

The heats of the 100m and 400m will be run today.

Bolt, the world's fastest man with world records of 9.69 (100m) and 19.30 (200m), should get the better of Powell, the former 100m record holder in the 100m, while it would be a no contest in the men's 200m.

However, while Bolt's 9.77 run in Ostrava earlier this month underlines his supreme fitness, Powell's readiness is questionable.

"Not 100 per cent (fit), but I am in good enough shape to qualify," Powell responded when asked about his readiness.

Powell aggravated an ankle injury at the Penn Relays on April 25 and this kept him out of Oslo but outings at the Reebok Grand Prix (10.10, 7th) and Prefontaine Classic (10.07, 2nd) in May produced below-par performances.

"The confidence level is there, just not in any big competing attitude," Powell said.

As for Bolt, he is using the trials to get in shape.

"For me, the trials is always a 9.8 run because the aim is to make the team," Bolt said.

"I am trying to run myself into shape, so I think I will be running the 200m harder because I have not run any 200m all season."

Last year, Bolt, who spent the last 15 metres of the race joking around with Powell, won the event in 9.85.

Pushed to the line

This year, however, both men could be pushed to the line as more Jamaicans are running their way into the sub-10 seconds club.

Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, Steve Mullings and Marvin Anderson could be there, although they are more likely battling for the third automatic spot.

In the women's sprints, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown, the Olympic 100m and 200m champions, will have strong competition.

Fraser, who had a minor surgery at the start of April, said: "I am about 90-99 per cent ready. I am just looking forward to go out and do my best."

Fraser, however, will not have any easy road, as Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart, the world leader at 10.92, will start as the favourite.

Sherone Simpson, who shared the silver with Stewart, Aleen Bailey, Sheri-Ann Brooks and Simone Facey are also strong competitors. Simpson, however, has not competed since knee surgery last year.

All are down to take on Campbell-Brown in the 200m. Campbell-Brown, who has a wild-card entry in the 100m at the Berlin championship, has opted out of the short sprint.

The 400m events are the other competitive races on the weekend's card. Shericka Williams, the Olympic silver medallist, is expected to start as the favourite in the women's event, but Novlene Williams-Mills and defending champion Rosemarie White will be no walkovers.

Bobby-Gaye Wilkins and Shereefa Lloyd, along with Anastasia Le-Roy, are the other athletes who could also do very well.

Shericka Williams, Jamaica's leader in 50.58 this season, said her aim would be to "go out there, execute my race properly and hopefully get a season best".

On the men's side, again a battle royal is expected with Michael Blackwood, Sanjay Ayre, Ricardo Chambers, Jermaine Gonzales, Allodin Fothergill and Leford Green, the main contenders.

Battle

In the 400m hurdles, Danny McFarlane, Isa Phillips, Adrian Findlay, Dean Griffiths and Markino Buckley are the top men.

Olympic champion Melaine Walker, Nickiesha Wilson, Shevon Stoddart and Kaliese Spencer are in for a similar battle in the women's 400m hurdles.

The women's 100m hurdles with Delloreen Ennis-London, Vonette Dixon, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Lacena Golding-Clarke and Wilson will also be hot. Andrea Bliss and Toni-Ann D'Oyley have been around for some time now and would also want to upset one of the veterans.

In the field, Atlanta Olympics silver medallist James Beckford (7.97m) will be tested by a young group to be led by Alain Bailey (8.06m), Julian Reid (8.04m), Nicholas Gordon (8.03m, indoor), Herbert McGregor (7.79m) and Tarik Batchlor (7.82m) in a very competitive long jump.

In the women's triple jump, Trecia Smith, who won the triple jump gold in Helsinki four years ago, will be hard-pressed to beat NCAA champion Kimberly Williams. Williams won the NCAA competition with a jump of 14.38 metres.

Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser getting ready for the National Championships at the Stadium East field on Wednesday. - photo by Keisha Hill

Today's events

5:15 p.m.: Men's 100m masters final

5:20 p.m.: Men's 400m masters final

5:30 p.m.: Men's 1500m masters final

6:00 p.m.: Women's discus final

6:00 p.m.: Women's long jump final

6:00 p.m.: Men's javelin final

6:10 p.m.: Men's 400m hurdles prelims

6:20 p.m.: Women's 800m prelims

6:30 p.m.: Men's 800m prelims

6:40 p.m.: Men's 5000m final

7:10 p.m.: Women's 100m prelims

7:25 p.m.: Men's 100m prelims

7:30 p.m.: Men's triple jump final

8:10 p.m.: Women's 400m prelims

8:25 p.m.: Men's 400m prelims