Goulbourne SYDNEY -
LONG jumper Elva Goulbourne, who has been battling a knee injury for the past two weeks, put that behind her to reach the final at the Olympic Stadium yesterday.
Goulbourne, a former Dinthill Technical High student and inter-secondary sprint champion now attending Central Arizona Junior College in the United States, leaped to 6.68 metres to be ranked sixth among the 12 qualifiers for tomorrow's final.
Jamaica's second entrant Lacena Golding did not fare as well. Golding, a student at Auburn University, had a best jump of 6.39 metres which was good enough to put her 23rd of the 39 who reported for the event.
The leading qualifiers for the final are Heike Drechsler of Germany with 6.84m, Italy's Fiona May 6.81m, American Marion Jones 6.78m and her compatriot Dawn Burrell with 6.77m.
Meanwhile, reports from the Jamaica camp are that 100 metres bronze medallist Tayna Lawrence, Vere Technical schoolgirl Veronica Campbell, Beverly McDonald and Merlene Ottey will be the running order for Jamaica in the sprint relay which begin tomorrow with the semi-finals.
Campbell the world youth champion with a personal best time of 11.18 seconds replaces Peta-Gaye Dowdie who withdrew from the relay squad yesterday.
Campbell, who has been working out with the relay squad for the past week, is getting the nod ahead of Astia Walker who stopped after 80 metres in her heat of the women's 200 metres second round.
Jamaica are considered strong medal contenders in the 4x100m along with the United States, world champions Bahamas and Russia.
- Elton Tucker
