By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sports Editor 
Bolt
LOCAL-BASED members of Jamaica's delegation to the ninth IAAF World Athletics Championships leave today for Paris.
The group headed by manager Ludlow Watts includes three athletes, five coaches and a three-member medical team.
Sprinter Kerron Stewart was expected to be among those leaving but it is doubtful whether she will attend the championships.
Stewart who departs today for Essex County Junior College in the United States, experienced some delay in getting her USA student visa and only picked it up last Friday. According to reports she is still to get a French visa to attend the championships which kicks off on Saturday in Paris.
Her high school coach Raymond Graham, a member of the coaching staff to the World Championships, told The Gleaner yesterday that Stewart will have to seek a release from Essex County to attend the championships.
Graham who will be attending his fourth World Championships as a member of the national coaching staff expects the island to do very well at the nine-day meet.
PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME
"A lot of the athletes are peaking at the right time and we should do very well in Paris," Graham who was in charge of preparing the relay teams when Jamaica's women won the 4x400m gold in Edmonton said yesterday.
He added: "Brigitte Foster is the world number two in the sprint hurdle and Vonette Dixon and Lacena Golding-Clarke did personal best times a few days ago. Lorraine Fenton is rated number two in the 400m and high jumper Germaine Mason is doing very well. Kemel Thompson also has the second best time in the 400m hurdles while Commonwealth Games champion Michael Blackwood, although he does not have the best time for 2003, is probably doing the right thing by running few races leading up to the championships.
"As he showed at last year's Commonwealth Games he improves with each round. He has been beaten by American Tyree Washington who is now running some fast times but the rounds could prove decisive in Paris. In addition to the individual events I expect us to again be among the medals in the relays, especially the men's and women's 4x400m."
Those leaving for Paris today are: Ludlow Watts - manager; assistant managers Marie Tavares and Lincoln Eatmon; technical leader Dennis Johnson; coaches Raymond Graham, Maurice Wilson, Maurice Westney and Fitz-Albert Coleman; medical team - Dr. Glenton Smith, physiotherapists Elizabeth Robinson and Gaynor Downer.
Athletes: Allison Beckford, Naleya (Keasha) Downer and Usain Bolt.
The Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association's (JAAA) media liaison officer Yolande Davis and athletes Chris Williams, Lansford Spence and Michael McDonald will leave on Wednesday.
