Henderson favorite in local athletics meet

JAKARTA (JP): The young American sprinter Vincent Henderson has emerged as a strong favorite in the second Bob Hasan Track and Field Invitational Meet here next weekend after clocking the fastest time of the year.

Henderson got an eyeful of track and field enthusiasts at the NCAA Arkansas/Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a few weeks ago when he ran his personal best of 10 seconds dead, leaving his major rival Kelvin Kelly a distant second, 29 hundredths of a second behind.

A week later, the 23-year-old American continued his sparkling form when he set a world second-best time of 20.17 in the 200- meter on his way to the gold medal in the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in California. His time beat living-legend sprinter Carl Lewis' mark of 20.19.

Henderson will now aim to enhance his standing by winning a rare contest with former world number one and compatriot Dennis Mitchell in the invitational meet here.

The American duo, along with world men's discus champion Lars Riedle of Germany and 1992 Olympics women's 100m silver medalist Juliet Cuthbert of Jamaica, are scheduled to arrive here on May 1. They will be among the 45 world-class athletes who have confirmed their participation at the meet.

The meet, officially called the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) permit meet, is hoped by the organizers to qualify Indonesia for the second Asian athletic Grand Prix.

Currently Japan is the only country in Asia authorized by IAAF to hold a Grand Prix. The Bob Hasan Meet is on May 5 from 5-7 pm. (amd/arf)