Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
NASSAU, Bahamas:
WORLD JUNIOR 200 metre record holder Usain Bolt was not part of the Jamaican contingent that arrived in Bahamas yesterday for the Caribbean & Central American (CAC) Championships.
Manager of the Jamaican team, Judy Ewart, told The Gleaner that Bolt and his coach, Glen Mills, who is part of the six-member coaching staff, headed by Edward Hector, are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, the day of the opening ceremony.
Ewart, who is also an executive member of the Howard Aris-led Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), did not give a reason for Bolt's late arrival.
She also confirmed the withdrawals of Olympian Nadia Davy, Olympic 100m bronze medallist Tayna Lawrence, Sanjay Ayre and Kingston College's (KC) schoolboy Alain Bailey. Lawrence and Bailey pulled out with injuries, but the reasons for Davy and Ayre withdrawing were not known.
Meanwhile, overseas-based Beverley McDonald, Peta-Gaye Dowdie, Bradon Simpson, Dean Griffiths, Lueroy Colquhoun, Maurice Smith, Claston Bernard, Sekou Clarke, Shellene Williams, Aneita Denton, Michelle Freeman, Debbie-Ann Paris, Shevon Staddort, Elva Goulbourne, Mardrea Hyman, Koreen Hinds, Natalie Grant, Caltha Seymour, and Daniele Browning are expected in today.
FIRST IN ACTION
The remainder of the squad, which included Holmwood schoolgirls Sonita Sutherland and Anastasia Le-Roy, Andrea Bliss, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Sheree Francis, Wilbert Walker and Decosta Wright arrived at the Bahamas International Airport at about 3:50 p.m. after a few Air Jamaica flight delays.
Bernard and national record holder Smith will be the first two Jamaicans in action on Saturday. They will contest the 100m decathlon at 9:00 a.m., after which the women's and men's 100m sprinters will take to the track.
McDonald and a replacement for Lawrence will represent Jamaica in the women's event while Lerone Clarke and Kurt Watson will face the starter in the men's dash.
