Belizean runner bows out of Olympics

Jayson Jones is a Belizean sprinter who lives in the USA and recently graduated from Florida State University. A little over an hour ago he carried Belize’s Olympic hopes on his shoulders as he settled into the blocks in the opening heat of the 200 metres in Sydney. Here’s the race as called by Caribbean commentators Lance Whittaker and Hubert Lawrence.

Hubert Lawrence, Television Commentator

“That’s (number) 2660 from Norway and Norway has a number of good sprinters. John Ertzgard has run 20.47 and just outside him, Jayson Jones. Stephan Buckland, who ran good in the hundred metres (wearing number) 2691, has run 20.31.

Lance Whittaker, Television Commentator

“Yes and Ronward Wells of the Bahamas is the Caribbean interest in this event. He races out of lane five, was eliminated in the first round of the 100 metres after a 10.47 clocking and we are watching how he’ll perform here. It’s been very rainy over the past 12, 13 hours here in Sydney. The sun is beginning to peep out just a little bit here and there’s not a huge crowd. The weather forecast is for an improvement in the weather, more sunshine later on and we expect the temperature to reach just about 22 degrees Celsius. They are ready for the start.”

(Gun goes off)

Lance Whittaker

“Top three in each heat and the next fastest qualifies into round two. Good start for Fitzgerald into the straight. On the inside Obikwelu is running well, he has taken a big lead. On the inside of the green, Francis Obikwelu, very clearly up front coming faster, Buckland coming fast on the outside to take second. 20.76 a comfortable start to the 200 program for Obikwelu.”

Local track and field experts expressed surprise at Jones’ 7th place performance as in recent major competitions he has run the 200 as fast as 20.9 seconds. Today’s run was clocked at a disappointing 22.2, almost a second and a half behind the winner. All the heats of the men’s and women’s 200 metres will be shown right here on Channel Five following World News.