Jamaica’s medal chase in track and field at the Commonwealth Games will start at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, with the finals of two events — the 110m hurdles and men’s high jump — scheduled to be contested.

National champions Demario Prince, in the hurdles, and Romaine Beckford, in the men’s high jump, are expected to lead the medal chase.

Technical leader Maurice Wilson said all was well in the camp except the withdrawal of men’s sprinter Nishion Ebanks, a loss which could have repercussions for the relays.

“We are settled in and expectations are high despite the cold weather,” Wilson said. “However, we had a late pull out, Nishion Ebanks, which affects the 4x100m relay pool.”

Ebanks was set to contest the individual men’s 100m, along with Ackeem Blake and Rohan Watson. He was expected to form part of the sprint relay team.

Jamaica’s Demario Prince (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Adelle Tracey Photo: Garfield Robinson

Watson will be the only Jamaican competing in the first round of both the men’s and women’s 100m, with the rules allowing the top eight to advance to the next round. Blake and women runners Jonielle Smith and Jodean Williams will sit out the first rounds as a result.

Prince is the leader in the Commonwealth Games 11om hurdles rankings with his personal best 13.01 seconds set at the Prefontaine Classic two weeks ago, while Jerome Campbell is ranked ninth. Both will hope to qualify for the final.

Beckford, who was eighth at the Commonwealth Games four years ago, is ranked third in the men’s high jump. He is to face off against top-ranked Kimani Jack of England and Sarvesh Anil Kushare of India, both of whom have cleared 2.31m this season.

Two-time World Athletics Indoor Championships bronze medallist Raymond Richards of Jamaica and defending champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand are also down to compete.

Also on Monday, Adelle Tracey, who switched allegiance from England to represent Jamaica four years ago but was not allowed to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games because required documentation had not been completed, will make her debut in the women’s 800m. She is to be joined national champion Kelly-Ann Beckford in the first round.

Jamaica’s hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis Photo: Naphtali Junior

The women’s 800m will be one of the most anticipated events, at least on the opening day of track and field, since a number of top athletes, including England’s Georgia Hunter-Bell, Scotland’s Jemma Reeki and Shafiqua Maloney of St Vincent and the Grenadines, are expected to be in the medal hunt.

Former world champion and Olympic Games medallist Tajay Gayle will hope to improve on his fourth place at the 2018 Commonwealth Games when he takes part in the first round of the long jump. Jordan Turner is also down to compete.

They will go up against top-ranked Sreeshankar of India, Liam Adcock of Australia, Kelsey Daniel of Trinidad and Tobago and Stephen McKenzie of Scotland.

Six-time national champion Nayoka Clunis, a medal contender in the women’s hammer throw, is expected to advance from the first round.

Clunis, who extended her national record to 72.03m this year, is ranked fifth. She is to face top-ranked Canadian Camryn Rogers, New Zealand’s Lauren Bruce and England’s Charlotte Payne.