As the nation’s athletes prepare for their respective upcoming sporting meets and by extension the various national sporting events, one line they would be looking at crossing is getting to participate in the same arena with international athletes.

The excitement at this year’s Intercol which again will span three days – April 03rd, 04th and 05th; coupled with the National Championship carded for March 10th at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium will reveal the top athletes that will get the opportunity to be participants in the second annual Grenada Invitational which takes place at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium on April 21st.

Not only will this year’s Invitational give secondary schools students an opportunity to compete with international athletes; but primary schools students will also get a chance to shine in the spotlight.

Assistant Technical Director Bruce Swan outlining some of the expected program lineup for the international event said that in the local segment the top eight athletes from Intercol and National Championship will qualify for the Grenada Invitational

“So the hundred meters will be the 100 meters under 14 and the hundred meters under 18. The 200 will be 200 under 16 and 200 under 20; and the 800 would be an open event.

“The 4 x 100 meters will be for primary schools, we cannot forget the primary schools. So we will have the primary schools in the National Primary Schools Championship and also from the private primary schools

“The 4×4 hundred girls would be an event from the Intercol and the National Championship but the 4×4 hundred meters boys will be the top four high schools together with the top four high schools from four countries in the region “

Technical Director for the 2018 Grenada Invitational, Curlan Peters says a number of Grenadians living abroad is expressing interest in participating in this year’s games.

He said this speaks volume for the level of growth in the sporting program

“The growth in track and field in this island and not only be able to have a top line facility but also the program and the level of competition that we are making available to them right now”

Peters said that for the local athletes to compete in the same event as regional and international athletes is a boost for their confidence and overall performance

“It’s a grand opportunity and it’s an opportunity to focus on our developmental program for to give the youngsters, young athletes  to get to see in their eye somebody run a 10.02 or a 44 something you know so it give them the opportunity to boost their performance and boost their training program”.

The event will feature a number of local, regional and international athletes competing in the first major one-day meet of the 2018 outdoor track and field season.

International sprinting sensation, 2017 World 100m champion Justin Gatlin is among the first athlete to confirm his participation in the Grenada Invitational.

Grenada’s power team is expected to include Olympic Gold medalist Kirani James.

The Grenada Invitational is approved by the Grenada Athletic Association (GAA) and sanctioned by the North American Central American and Caribbean Athletic Associations.