KINGSTON, Jamaica, 7 May 2004 — American sprint queen Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery arrived in Jamaica Wednesday in preparation for today’s Jamaican International Invitational track meet.
Jones and Montgomery headed the list of Wednesday’s arrivals. Others to check in include Jamaicans Davian Clarke and his wife Lacina Golding-Clarke as well as Vonette Dixon and Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas.
“I am happy to be here and I will not be worrying about who I will be competing against,” said Jones. “I am just interested in running as fast as I can.
“I know that Debbie (Ferguson) and Tayna (Lawrence) will be there and they will be very good competition for me. But I am just interested in seeing how far along I am in my preparation for the Olympics.”
Jones reiterated Wednesday that she has never taken steroids. “I have never taken drugs in the past and that’s it,” said Jones.
Her partner Montgomery will also be using the meet to assess his form ahead of the Athens Olympics. “Last year I put my family first. This year they will be coming along with me as I try to do very well in the Olympics,” Montgomery said. “I just want to go out there on Friday and enjoy myself and see where I am and take it from there.
Montgomery is expected to match strides with the 100 meters world champion Kim Collins. Despite the absence of some of the top local stars in the meet, chairman of the Sports Development Foundation Howard Aires is confident that the meet will be a success. The meet will see competition in the long jump, high jump, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 400 meters hurdles, 800 meters, 110 and 100 meters hurdles and 1500 meters.
