SIMPSONAnthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Nassau, Bahamas:
Quarter-milers Brandon Simpson and Sanjay Ayre as well as sprint hurdlers Michelle Freeman and Christopher Pinnock, have not joined their Jamaican teammates in Nassau for the 20th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Athletics Championships, which got under way with its opening ceremony last night.
Simpson has apparently skipped the CAC Champs for yesterday's IAAF Golden League meet in Rome, Italy
Team manager Judy Ewart confirmed that Freeman and Simpson would be missing but did not comment on the absence of Pinnock or Ayre, on her way to meet Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) president Howard Aris, Usain Bolt, general secretary Garth Gayle and coach Glen Mills at the airport.
Reports reaching The Gleaner are that Simpson said he was unaware of the championships. Ewart said that was impossible, but did not elaborate as to whether Simpson was properly informed of the Championships dates.
With Simpson and Ayre absent, the coaching staff, headed by Edward Hector, will now have to choose between Lansford Davis, Marvin Essor or Sekou Clarke to partner national champion Lansford Spence in the 400m heats set to start at 10:30 a.m. (Jamaica time) this morning.
Andrea Bliss and Decosma Wright could be Jamaica's only entries in the 100m and 110m hurdles respectively.
decathlon
Claston Bernard and Maurice Smith are the first two Jamaicans down to compete today. They will contest the 100m of the men's decathlon at 9: 30 a.m .
Beverley McDonald, Sherri-Ann Brooks could compete in the women's 100-metre event whereas Daniel Browning, Lerone Clarke or Kurt Watson could turn out for the men.
Debbie-Ann Paris-Thymes, Shevon Stoddart, Dean Griffiths, Lueroy Colquhoun are down for the 400m hurdles preliminary rounds whereas Shellene Williams and Moya Thompson are down to compete in the flat 400 metres today.
The finals of the 100 metres are on tonight, so too are the 400-metre hurdles finals.
