MANAGER of Jamaica’s track and field team at the Commonwealth Games, Ludlow Watts admits that the short turnaround time between the World Athletics Championships and the multi-discipline event that gets underway in Birmingham, England, tomorrow has caused serious challenges for team officials.

Jamaican athletes won 10 medals (two gold, seven silver, and one bronze) at the World Athletics Championships — which ended in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday — and will bow into action in Birmingham on August 2, with the Commonwealth Games set to get started on Friday, June 29.

The situation has led to team selection headaches for Watts and the rest of the JAAA managers in Birmingham, with several late withdrawals from athletes expected to feature at the games compounding the issue.

“It is the first time we are having this type of experience where we are moving from one competition straight into another with the same number of athletes. So, it is very unusual for us and it’s a bit of a challenge and a reason why some things are not yet clear; it’s a very unusual situation,” Watts told the Jamaica Observer from the team’s base at the University of Birmingham yesterday.

Up to yesterday evening, Watts and his team were still working through several issues with the team and finalising its make-up. He says he is expecting to have a clearer picture of the entire team today.

“I think by tomorrow [Thursday], or so, we’ll be in a better position to state where we are in terms of the number of people arriving, the team, and preparation,” Watts opined.

“So at this moment, most of the people are just arriving, and a number of people are not going to be part of the team because of injuries and some other reasons. But, I would say by tomorrow we’ll be in a better position to state who are the people that will be coming and also the events in which they will compete,” said Watts.

Watts pointed to the JAAA’s previous experiences in Birmingham and the vibrant Jamaican community in the West Midlands city as major positives for the athletes heading into the competition.

“We have an excellent relationship with the University of Birmingham, and that started from 2012, and we also had our camp here in 2017. So in terms of a relationship with us and the familiarity with the surroundings of Birmingham, you know, it’s a Jamaican community so that makes it a good advantage for us so I think that should help in some way — and the people of Birmingham, as usual, are always warm to our Jamaican athletes and I think that will be a part of our success story here,” Watts said.

Jamaica’s team to the London 2012 Olympic Games was based at the educational institution as was the team at the 2017 World Athletics Championships, which was also held in London.

Watts noted that despite the challenges being experienced, he is expecting a solid performance from the team here.

Jamaican track and field athletes won 25 of the 27 medals on offer at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

“I think we should do well, but it’s not our strongest team because of the number of people who have withdrawn for various reasons — but I think we should definitely make a very good impact, nonetheless,” Watts reasoned.

The Commonwealth Games will get underway tomorrow with the opening ceremony at Alexander Stadium, which is also the venue for track and field events.

This will be Jamaica’s eighteenth appearance at the games, with the country being represented in 17 sporting disciplines, the most in history.