TAMPERE, Finland — Xavier Nairne will be Jamaica’s lone representative in the men’s 200m which starts today, the third day of the IAAF Word Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

Nairne, who was second at the Jamaican Junior Championships last month, was originally selected along with winner Michael Bentley, but the team was left with just one entrant after the latter was withdrawn on Sunday.

Team officials told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that efforts were made to replace Bentley, but by then the entries were closed.

Nairne was a semi-finalist at the IAAF World Under-18 Championships last year in Nairobi, Kenya.

Meanwhile, female long jumpers Ackelia Smith and Susan Francis as well as male 400m hurdlers Leonardo Ledgister and Malik James-King will start their medal quests today.

James-King comes into the championships with a personal best 50.03 seconds, fifth in the world, and is a legitimate candidate for a place in Friday’s semi-finals.

Ledgister with his 50.31 seconds personal best should also advance from today’s first round.

On form it could be an uphill task for both female long jumpers to get out of the first round as they are up against a field that will test them to the limit.