A JAMAICA TEAM of 11 leaves the island today for Carolina, Puerto Rico, where it will participate in the World Masters Athletic Championships which get under way today.
The World Masters caters for men 40 and over and women 35 and over, there is no age limit, the categories are in five-year bands starting with age group 40 to 44 for men and age group 35 to 39 for women, and Jamaica will compete, at different age groups, in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 110 hurldes, and the marathon.
The team includes a number of Olympians as well as overseas residents - including 71-year-old Bebsi Thompson who resides in the United States of America and will be participating in the marathon.
The other participants are Patrick Robinson - 100 and 200; Dr. Maynard McIntosh - 100 and 200; Lindley Headley - 100 and 200; Wayne Stevens out of Canada - 100; Denise Maxfield out of the US - 100, 200 and 400; Allan Beckford - 400, 800 and 1500; Teddy Price - 100, 110 hurdles and long jump; Carl Smith - 110 hurdles; Errol Brandt - marathon; and Lorna Williams who resides in the US and who has participated in the Boston Marathon.
The Jamaica Athletic Masters Association was formed last October, a team representing Jamaica participated in a masters meet in Barbados in May, this is the first big one for Jamaica, and president Headley, an Olympian, said yesterday that the athletes were looking forward to it.
"It is always wonderful to be on the track," said Headley, "and we should do well. A number of us have been participating in Seniors meets and there are those who are really good - including Maxfield who, based on her times, must be among the best in the world, and Williams who has done well in the Boston Marathon."
