SAN JUAN, CMC:
SOME OF the region's relay teams have already qualified for the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in August.
The North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletics Confederation (NACAC) website reported that 14 national teams from the NACAC area have qualified for the relay events.
J'CANS LEAD CARIB
Leading the Caribbean's charge in the women's events will be Olympic champions Jamaica in the sprint relay and in the 1,600 metres relay race.
The Jamaicans sped to victory in the Athens final, ahead of Russia and France respectively.
Led by Olympic 200 metres champion Veronica Campbell, the Jamaican 'Golden Girls' will renew rivalry with the USA team, who has not won a World championship relay title since the 1997 games in Athens, Greece.
Trinidad and Tobago and former World and Olympic champions Bahamas are the other Caribbean teams in the sprint relays.
In the 4x400 metres, Olympic bronze medallists Jamaica are the only Caribbean team already qualified, along with Olympic champions USA and Olympic finalists Mexico.
In men's action, the Jamaicans again feature prominently in both events, after an unsuccessful appearance at the Athens Olympics, where they failed to make the finals in either of the relay events.
OTHER TEAM
Trinidad and Tobago, the 2001 Edmonton World Champion-ships bronze medallists, are the other regional team in the 4x100 metres and in the 4x400 metres, while Jamaica are the only English speaking Caribbean country qualified so far.
Other national teams will have an opportunity to qualify during the next few months at the CAC Senior Championships in Nassau, Bahamas from July 8-11, as well as any of the four Permit Meetings that have been approved by NACAC.
