Observer/AP  |  Sunday, March 08, 2009

The US track team is challenging Usain Bolt to a race. Doug Logan, the CEO of USA Track and Field, has proposed a home-and-away track series this year between sprinters from America and Jamaica – the home of the world-record holder in the 100 and 200 metres.

“I was among the millions of captivated observers in Beijing who watched as Jamaican short sprinters dominated their events at the Olympic Games,” Logan wrote in a letter he delivered yesterday to NACAC president, Jamaican Neville ‘Teddy’ McCook, at a meet in Florida.

“It was obvious to everyone that with the rise of your country’s great sprinters and hurdlers, a compelling rivalry between Jamaica and the United States had developed.”

Logan proposed a pair of meets, one in the Southeastern United States and another in Jamaica, to take place in May and June. They would use a team scoring system.

And speaking with the Sunday Observer at yesterday’s Carifta Trials in Kingston, Howard Aris, the president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), said he was not averse to the idea after being advised of the interest shown by the Americans.

“We can’t answer definitively… (but) clearly we would have an interest in competing in anything (event) that would further the development of track and field in Jamaica,” Aris said.

“However until we get an official request from US Track and Field outlining the events, the time of year, the budget, sponsorship and all of the implications, all we can say is that we have an interest in hearing what they have to say,” the JAAA boss added.

Among Logan’s tasks since he took over at USATF last year is to beef up the profile of track and field, especially in non-Olympic years, when interest usually wanes.

In his letter, he said the rivalries of Asafa Powell vs Justin Gatlin, Veronica Campbell-Brown vs Allyson Felix and Bolt vs Tyson Gay “have captivated the imaginations of track fans the world over.”

He also added a little gamesmanship in his invitation. With Bolt’s world-record runs and wins by Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Jamaica won all four Olympics sprints and established itself as the best sprint team in the world. Led by Bolt and Powell, the Jamaicans also set a world record in the men’s 400-metre relay.

But, Logan said, “Of course, our sprinters are not ready to concede Jamaican dominance. Let us not forget that less than two years ago, it was the United States on top of three of the four short sprints and both sprint relays at the 2007 World Championships.”