Dwight Cunningham

Manager of the Jamaica team at the Junior Pan Am Championships, Dwight Cunningham, is confident but guarded about the team's chances as the event gets under way today in Mirimar, Florida.

The Jamaicans will battle with the United States and other teams like The Bahamas and Cuba and a much tougher test is expected than at the World Youth Championships.

"The World Youth team was blessed with a lot of stars, this team has not but it has enough quality athletes to make Jamaica proud," Cunningham told Star Sports.

The manager does not believe that the team is under pressure to perform and despite agreeing that the team is not as strong as former years, believes that they have what it takes to hold their own.

working overtime

"With the long lay-off since the Trials there are some concerns, but some of the coaches from the various schools like Edwin Allen and Calabar have been working overtime with their athletes and they will do their best," Cunningham said.

"Most of them are in good shape and although they have not been competing all are in high spirits."

Two years ago in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica finished fourth overall in the medal table with 14 medals - three gold, three silver and eight bronze. And while he does not have a prediction for this year's medal count he does not believe the team will be embarrassed.

"I will not predict a medal count but we are getting the athletes highly motivated and they have a duty to themselves, their coaches and their country to perform well. I know that being who we are as a resolute country, I am very confident that they will do well on the day.

Junior Pan Am Games

Friday's schedule

Time Event

9:30 100m (M) Decathlon (1)

9:40 Hammer Throw (HT) (W) Final

10:00 100m (W) Semi-final

10:10 Long Jump (M) Decathlon (2)

10:15 Pole Vault (PV) (W) Final

10:20 100m (M) Semi-final

10:40 1500m (M) Semi-final

11:00 HT (w) Awards

11:15 100mH (W) Semi-final

11:15 Shot Put (SP) (M) Decathlon (3)

11:35 400m (W) Semi-final

11:55 400m (M) Semi-final

12:05 PV (w) Awards

Evening Session

Time Event

6:00 High Jump (M)Decathlon (4)

6:05 100m H (W) Final

6:10 Discus Throw (DT) (M) Final

6:15 400m (W) Final

6:20 Pole Vault (M) Final

6:25 400m (M) Final

6:35 100H (w), 400 (w), 400 (m) Awards

6:55 800m (W) Semi-final

7:10 Long Jump (LJ) (M) Final

7:10 Shot Put (W) Final

7:15 400m (M) Decathlon (5)

7:30 100m (W) Final

7:40 100m (M) Final

7:50 3000m (W) Final

8:05 DT (m), 100 (w), 100 (m), 3000 (w) Awards

8:20 5000m (M) Final

8:40 LJ (m), SP (w), 5000 (m) Awards