HINDS AND BECKFORDMELBOURNE, Australia:
JAMAICA'S TRACK and field team at the XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne has been hit by at least two no-shows.
Manager of the team, Garth Gayle, said last night (Friday night) that James Beckford will not be here for the men's long jump.
Beckford, a silver medallist in the event at the 1996 Olympics and 2003 World Championships, competed at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow last weekend where he had a best leap of 7.78m and failed to reach the final.
Gayle said he had not spoken to Beckford and could give no reason the athlete will miss the Games.
Steeplechaser Korine Hinds will also not be here for her event. According to reports from the Games Village, Hinds had passport problems and will not travel to Australia.
The former St. Jago High student finished fourth in the 3000m steeplechase final at last year's World Championships in Helsinki and would have been expected to challenge for a medal here.
Former national 400m champion Lorraine Fenton has not yet arrived but officials here are still expecting her to fly in for the women's 400m first round tomorrow.
The track and field team has been hit by injuries and withdrawals since the squad was announced late last month.
World junior 200m record holder Usain Bolt was forced out by injury while defending men's 400m champion Michael Black-wood and 2002 800m finalist Michelle Ballentine both withdrew from the Games.
Meanwhile, 2004 Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell flew into Melbourne at 11:30 a.m. yesterday.
Gayle said she was in high spirits after her long trip from the United States.
"She is here to do her job," Gayle said. "I want to commmend her for her patriotism. She has taken a week off from college to represent her country."
Campbell will compete in just one event, the women's 200m. She will miss the women's 4x100m relay as she has to fly back to the United States to continue her studies at the Arkansas University.
Entries for the women's sprint relay are sparce and the event is expected to be run as a straight final on Saturday, March 25.
Also, taking a week's break from college are 200m sprinter Omar Brown who arrived with Campbell and long jumper Wilbert Walker.
Despite the no-shows, Gayle said things have been going well.
"The athletes here are in high spirits and the coaches are working hard to get the runners ready," Gayle said.
He added: "We have already had several relay practices and we should field strong teams for the relays."
The track and field events at the Games begin tomorrow with the men's 100m, featuring Jamaica's world record holder Asafa Powell.
