Jet joins Bolt for Invitational

American sprinter Carmelita Jeter is the latest track and field ace to join the star-studded lineup for the highly anticipated Cayman Invitational meet. 

The Olympic gold medallist, known as the Jet, will join Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt at the event. The announcement Wednesday means both the world’s fastest man and woman will be competing in Grand Cayman on 8 May. 

Ms Jeter, who won silver at the London Olympics last year, holds the fastest 100 metres time for any female athlete still competing.  

Her personal best 10.64 seconds is bettered only by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing world record run of 10.49secs, set in 1987. 

Bolt, 26, who took three gold medals at the London Olympics, needs no introduction.  

The fastest man in history, his exploits on the track and charismatic personality have made him an international icon who transcends sport. 

Jeter and Bolt will be the star attractions among a glittering lineup of Olympic medal winners at the Cayman meet. 

Jamaican sprinter Kerron Stewart, 110m hurdler Hansle Parchment, 400m hurdler Melanie Walker and the Bahamas’ 400m runner Chris “Fireman” Brown are already announced for the event. 

Extra bleachers are being brought to the Truman Bodden Sports Complex for the meet in anticipation of a record crowd in excess of 5,000 people. 

More than 80 athletes, including Cayman’s finest, will compete in 12 track and two field events during the meet, which is in its second year. 

Ms Jeter, who headlined the inaugural event in 2012, said she was excited to return to Grand Cayman. And she paid tribute to Cayman’s own Commonwealth gold medallist Cydonie Mothersill for organising the event. 

“I really enjoyed being part of the inaugural meet that took place last year,” Ms Jeter said. “I was very proud of my friend, Cydonie, for the great job that she and her staff did putting it together. They put on a first class competition and treated everybody in a very welcoming way.” 

Ms Jeter holds three of the top-10 100m times ever run. Her 10.64 seconds in 2009 overtook Marion Jones as the second fastest woman in history. 

At 33, the California-born sprinter is still one of the world’s fastest.  

Besides the silver she won at the London Olympics, she was part of the US 4x100m relay team that won gold and broke the world record by more than half-a-second. 

She also took World Championship gold in Daegu, South Korea in 2011.