By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Richards...defending Commonwealth Games 400m champion. - File
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND:
VETERAN 400 metres runner Sandie Richards will carry the Jamaican flag at today's opening ceremony for the XVII Commonwealth Games.
Richards, the defending Commonwealth Games 400m champion, has also represented Jamaica with distinction at four Olympic Games and five World Championships.
The 33-year-old Richards was a member of the Jamaican 4x400m team which won gold at last year's World Championships in Edmonton. In 1997 she won an individual silver behind Australia's Cathy Freeman.
The opening ceremony is set to start at 7.30 p.m. here (1.30 p.m. Ja time).
Jamaica will be in action in three sports when competition gets under way tomorrow. Most attention will be focussed on the City of Manchester Stadium where the track and field events will be held. The first two rounds of the men's 100m and 400m and the opening rounds of women's 100m and 400m are among the events scheduled.
Surprisingly national 400m record holder Lorraine Fenton was not on the start list for the individual event at the Games.
Those entered are Ronetta Smith, Allison Beckford and Richards. No member of the coaching or management staff was available for comment last night but it is understood that Fenton will only compete in the 4x400.
When contacted yesterday, technical adviser to the coaching staff, Denis Johnson, said Fenton had not yet arrived in the Games Village and changes could still be made to the entries.
National champion Dwight Thomas, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell will run in the men's 100m while only two Jamaican women, Veronica Campbell and Peta Gaye Barrett, will face the starter in the women's 100m.
Tayna Lawrence, one of the most consistent short sprinters on the grand prix circuit has been forced out of the Games by a groin injury.
Netball and squash also start today.
The netballers, who have the potential to undermine the traditional dominance of New Zealand and Australia in this event, will start against Caribbean rivals Barbados in Pool B of the netball competition. Matches will be played at the Manchester Evening News Arena.
