MONTEGO BAY, St James — Six athletes led by Jamaica’s Commonwealth and Pan-American Games 100m champion Lerone Clarke and 2008 Olympic Games 100m silver medallist Richard Thompson have withdrawn from the Jamaica International Invitational set for tomorrow evening at the National Stadium.

An e-mail from Athletes Liaison Donald Quarrie yesterday advised that six athletes, including Jamaican male sprinter hurdler Richard Philips, American shot putter Cory Martin, American female sprint hurdler Gennie Crawford and quarter-miler Shereefa Lloyd had all withdrawn from the meet for various reasons.

Quarrie said, however, that despite the late withdrawals — added to the absence of World Record holder and six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt and IAAF World Championships 100m champion Yohan Blake — the meet which is part of the IAAF World Challenge series is still a quality one.

Thompson and Clarke were down to contest the men’s 100m event but pulled out due to injuries, the Jamaica Observer learnt. Jamaican sprinter Jacques Harvey, who left the MVP/UTech group in the pre-season, has been added to the 100m line-up, Quarrie said.

Harvey, who is now based in Florida, is the World University games 100m champion and also won the College men’s 100m at last year’s Penn Relays American record holder Tyson Gay and his compatriots Ryan Bailey and Darvis Patton — members of the silver medal winning men’s 4x100m team in London; Jamaica’s Olympic men’s 4x100m relay gold medallists Nesta Carter and Kemar Bailey-Cole are the big names in the line-up.

Phillips, who was injured in the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles at the Olympics in London last year and has since moved back to Jamaica to train with Fitz Coleman his high school coach, will miss the meet due to injuries, as well as Olympic female 4x400m bronze medallist Lloyd.

American 100m hurdler Crawford has also withdrawn due to injury and has been replaced by Queen Harrison.

A family emergency will keep shot putter Cory Martin out of the meet.