Ato runs in Modesto Relays

MODESTO: Trinidadian sprint star Ato Boldon tries again today to get his 2003 season started when he races at the Modesto Relays.

Boldon, a quadruple Olympic medallist, suffered a thigh strain while competing at his first scheduled meet last month, the Mount SAC Relays, aborting his 100-metre effort after leading out of the blocks.

He missed subsequent meets in Martinique and Mexico and now joins a host Caribbean athletes — including Kittitian Kim Collins — for the meet at the Modesto Junior College Stadium.

The 29-year-old Boldon, who won double bronze in Atlanta and silver and bronze in Sydney, faces Americans Jon Drummond and Joshua Johnson, Britain’s Dwain Chambers, and Jamaican Llewellyn Bredwood in the 100 metres.

Boldon is also on the 200-metre start list that includes Drummond, Collins, the 2001 World Championship silver medallist in the event, and Bahamian Dominic Demeritte, who at the Brazil Grand Prix last weekend.

Jamaicans Ricardo Williams, Elston Cawley and Lancford Davis are also in the field.

In form Bahamian Chris Brown, who collected three wins in the South Africa Engen Series last month tackles Jamaica’s Davian Clarke in the men’s 400 metres. In the women’s sprints, Jamaicans Bev McDonald and Merlene Frazer appear on the start lists for the 100 and 200 metres, respectively.

Jamaicans Tanya Jarrett and Debbie-Ann Parris will go in the women’s 400 hurdles, with Astia Walker in the 100-hurdles and Claudine Williams in the 400 metres. In the women’s 800 metres, Trinidadian Melissa DeLeon and Michelle Ballentine of Jamaica are listed.

The Cayman Islands’ Kareem Streete-Thompson has entered the men’s long jump.