Guadalajara, Mexico:

Manager George Peryer and head coach Raymond Graham are both optimistic that the athletes will do well over the five days of Pan American Games track and field competition which begins today at the Telmex Athletics Stadium in Guadalajara.

Manager Peryer said: "Everybody is determined, everybody is focused especially the sprinters. We did some baton changes on Saturday and yesterday morning."

Graham said yesterday the athletes have been responding well to training.

"I am very confident that we will do well," he said. "The coaching staff and the athletes have had a very great relationship and the training sessions have been going very well. Athletes have been coming out on time and we are operating like a family. We have had several sessions so far and they have been successful."

He lauded the input of Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Mike Fennell who visited the Athletes' Village yesterday and gave a pep talk to the Jamaican representatives

"Today the president of the JOA had a meeting with the team and he said a lot of things to motivate the athletes and they are ready to go. Some people may say we have the second and third string but once they go out to represent Jamaica they have to give of their best. Even with the team we have here, all our rivals, especially the Americans are worried."

Jamaica will not be represented in the women's 100 metres and Graham said they had not planned to. "Simone Facey was entered originally in error. At the declaration we withdrew her as she had said she will be concentrating on the 200 metres. On the male side both Commonwealth champion Lerone Clarke and Oshane Bailey are looking sharp. It has been a long year for Clarke, he has been competing since last year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi which was also held in October."