McPherson looking to repeat in women's 400 at JIIM

By Kayon Raynor

Senior Sports Reporter, RJR Group Sports

Title holder Stephenie-Ann McPherson of Jamaica will be aiming to further establish herself as the major contender in the 400 metres, when she faces a stacked field including reigning Olympic champion American Sanya Richards-Ross at the 11^th staging of the Jamaica International Invitational meet on Saturday (May3).  Also listed to compete in the one lap event are 2007 world championship bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills, World Indoor Champion American Francena McCorory, and 400m hurdles specialist Kaliese Spencer.

The Stephen Francis conditioned McPherson, who set a career best 49.92 in 2013 and placed fourth at the Moscow World Championship has displayed good early season form. She helped Jamaica take silver in the mile relay at World Indoor Championship in Poland and lowered her personal best over 200m to 22.93 on April 12.

Richards-Ross, who struggled with a toe injury last season, only managing 51.43 has signaled her intension to return to the best of 48.70 seconds done in 2006. And Richards-Ross should not be written off. She declared on TVJ's sports current affairs show "Eye on Sports," that she is 90 percent ready following toe surgery last year. Richards-Ross let on that there are two screws in her toe.

Personal Best Times:

Sanya Richards-Ross                        48.70

Stephenie Ann McPherson    49.92

Novlene Williams-Mills         49.63

Francena McCorory              49.86

Kaliese Spencer                     50.19