JAMAICA'S TEAM to the March 15-26 Commonwealth Games has been rocked by the withdrawal of two more athletes.
Defending men's 400 metres champion Michael Blackwood and 2002 800 metres finalist Michelle Ballentine opted out of the meet at the weekend.
Manager of the track and field team to the Games, Garth Gayle, confirmed yesterday that the athletes will not be travelling to Melbourne.
Blackwood, a former national champion, won the 400m gold in a blanket finish in Manchester, England, four years ago.
The Jamaican clocked 45.07 seconds to just edge clip Canada's Shane Nieme (45.09) and Avard Moncur of the Bahamas (45.12).
Ballentine placed eighth in the women's 800m final.
Last Tuesday, World Junior 200m record holder Usain Bolt was forced out of the Games by injury.
Bolt hurt himself while competing for the High Perfor-mance Training Centre (HPTC) in the 4x400m at the February 25 Gibson Relays, and his coach, Glen Mills, decided against his athlete competing in Melbourne.
The majority of the local-based members of Jamaica's delegation to the Games will leave in two groups today at 7.30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The netballers are scheduled to leave for Melbourne on Saturday.
