Sprints, Hurdles Highlight Incredible Pro Fields in Gainesville

By Scott Bush

Florida Relays Event Page | How to Watch | March 31 - April 2 - Gainesville, Florida

Olympic Medal Contenders Take On Challengers in Sprints

There are two potential Olympic gold medalists in the men's 100m, but it's not what it seems. World championship bronze medalist Andre De Grasse (CAN) is ready to challenge himself outdoors and push for a good early-season time, while reigning world indoor long jump gold medalist Marquis Dendy tests his talent without jumping at the finish. They are joined by USATF Outdoor Championship 100m semi-finalist Sean McClean, as well as world indoor 60m qualifier Koffi Wilfried (Ivory Coast). 

The most notable women's sprint race is the 200m, where Jamaican sprint legend Veronica Campbell-Brown readies to get her 2016 outdoor season underway. Coming off a year in which she finished fourth at the World Outdoor Championships in the 100m and won bronze in the 200m, Campbell-Brown is hoping for bigger and better things this season. She'll find stiff competition from 2015 NCAA 200m champion Dezerea Bryant, veterans Tiffany Townsend and Shalonda Solomon, as well as 400m star Francena McCorory, who tests her early season speed in a shorter event.

In the men's 200m, LaShawn Merritt similarly tests his early season speed in an "off" event. While it'll be fun to see how close to the 20 second barrier he can get, as his PR is 19.98 from 2007. Add in Great Britain's Daniel Talbot, who was a semi-finalist over 200m at the World Outdoor Championships, along with Sean McClean, and you have the making of a very fast race. 

The women's and men's 800m contests aren't necessarily as strong from top to bottom as the sprints, but they are still highly intriguing. 2014 world indoor 800m champion Chanelle Price runs her first open 800m race outdoors, where she'll be challenged by Cory McGee, who's coming off qualifying for the World Indoor Championships. On the men's side, Mike Rutt leads the way, but one intriguing storyline to follow is 400m specialist David Verburg competing in the 800m.

Then there are the relays. The men's and women's 4x400m relays are simply incredible, with talent across the board, including many top pros who are only there to compete in relays and not open events. The 4x shuttle relays will once again be strong, while the New Jersey New York Track Club tests itself in the 4x800m relay, an event we could see a very low time in.

Top Talent to Compete in Hurdle Events

The top heat of the men's 110m hurdles is simply incredible. Here's the nine man field:

Jarret Eaton (USA) - 4th in 60m hurdles at World Indoor Championships
Jason Richardson (USA) - 6th at USATF Outdoors in 2015 and Olympic and World medalist
Jeff Porter (USA) - 5th at USATF Outdoors in 2015
Dwight Thomas (JAM) - 2x Olympian
Andrew Riley (JAM) - Olympian
Eddie Lovett (VIR) - 7th in 60m hurdles at World Indoor Championships
Ryan Brathwaite (BAR) - 2009 World champion
Ronald Forbes (CYM) - 2x Olympian
Malcolm Thomas (USA)

Talk about a deep and talented field. Eaton is coming off his terrific indoor campaign, where he seemingly ran stronger and stronger every time out. Richardson and Porter are seeking to challenge for Team USA spots later this year at the Olympic Trials, while Thomas and Riley hope to do the same for Jamaica. Don't overlook Lovett either, as he ran very well in Portland and is showing great fitness heading into the weekend.

The men's 400m hurdles is rather intriguing, too. Olympic medalist Kerron Clement is ready to show he can be even better this year, after an impressive 2015 campaign saw him place fourth in Beijing at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships. Clement takes on strong competition from Cristian Morton (NGR), who placed second at the Continental Cup in 2014, as well as Leford Green (JAM), who was a World Outdoor semi-finalist last year.