Stewart... in first round of women's 100 metres. JAMAICA'S hunt for medals at the XIV Pan American Games will take a hopeful turn today when track and field stars hit the stadium track in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Long jumpers Colleen Scott and Andre Edwards both have the chance to become the island's first medal winners.
Scott leapt 6.56m for second behind Elva Goulbourne at the national 'trials' in June. She now carries the burden of medalling in an event Goulbourne took bronze in as a schoolgirl in Winnipeg, Canada, four years ago.
Similarly, Edwards faces the tough challenge of carrying on the James Beckford legacy as a big long jumper when he competes in the men's final.
Other medal hopefuls are Natalie Grant who competes in the women's hammer throw finals at 9:05 a.m. and Kimberly Barrett in the shot put finals.
Meanwhile, Kerron Stewart and Judyth Kitson race off in the first round of the women's 100 metres sprint at 9:00 a.m. for a place in the 5:45 p.m. semi-finals.
The country's flag will be carried on the men side of the short sprints by Michael Frater and Sheldon Morant. Both men finished second and third respectively to Asafa Powell at the national 'trials'. The first round of their event gets going at 9:20 a.m. while the semi-finals begin at 6:05 p.m.
The 400-metre events will begin at the semi-final stage for both men and women. Michelle Burger and Novelene Williams, both of whom finished behind Allison Beckford at the national 'trials', are the country's representatives in the 400m that are set to run off at 5:00 p.m.
The country's flag is being carried on the men side by Davian Clarke and Michael Campbell. Their event is set to begin at 6:05 p.m.
Jermaine Myers and Marvin Watts are the flag bearers in the 800m semi-finals, while Kenia Sinclair competes in the female's equivalent - 800m semi-final at 6:25p.m.
Meanwhile, Jamaica's quest for a tennis medal will continue with action in the men's and women's singles.
When competition got underway yesterday Dustin Brown thrashed hometown boy K. Norris 6-0 6-1 to advance to the second round of the men's singles.
In women's singles, Alanna Broderick also made an emphatic start by defeating Barbadian Ariana Marshall 6-2, 6-2 to also move comfortably past the first round.
However, it was tough going for Demar Johnson and Megan Moulton-Levy who both lost. Johnson went down to Puerto Rico's Gabriel Montilla 2-6, 3-6 in men's action, while Maria Alvez of Brazil earned a walkover at the expense of Moulton-Levy, who encountered transportation problems.
