Race is on for 2010 Jamaica-US showdown

INDIANAPOLIS: The United States-Jamaica Challenge Series will begin in 2010 with the nations' star sprinters, hurdlers and long jumpers testing each other in a team-based competition, officials said on Tuesday.

Meets tentatively planned for May and June of next year could pit such Jamaican stars as Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown against the best of the US such as Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix.

USA Track and Field and the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association announced the venture, pitched by USA Track chief executive Doug Logan in early March but unable to be launched this year because of an already-busy 2009 program.