BRESSANONE, Italy:

The town of Bressanone in South Tyrol has welcomed the presence of Jamaica's team for the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships, which starts here today.

Since the Jamaican team arrived in the small town which has a population of less than 21,000, many questions have being asked about Beijing Olympics hero Usain Bolt, who broke three world records, 100m (9.69), 200m (19.30) and 4x100m (37.10), on his way to stardom.

However, while the Jamaican contingent, backed by Bolt's fame, was welcomed with open arms, it's now down to business.

Samantha Elliott and Keenan Davis, the seventh and ninth fastest athletes going into the women's 100m hurdles, are the first Jamaicans down to take the track here at 9:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m. Ja time).

First discus thrower

Traves Smikle, the first discus thrower to represent Jamaica at this level, and Waquar DaCosta, who will start in the men's 800m, are the next in action.

The sprinters, Deandre Whitehorne and Sharicka Moulton, along with Adams Cummings and Kemar Bailey-Cole, the second fastest on the entry list at 10.41, are the ones to contest the women's and men's 100m heats. They will be trying to book their tickets for the afternoon's second round.

Second session

In the men's 400m, set for the day's second session, Javere Bell and A-Shawni Mitchell will carry Jamaica's flag against their Caribbean neighbour Kirani James, Grenada's lone athlete at the Championships.

James is the only youth to break 46 seconds with the 45.45 he clocked for gold at the Carifta Games this year.

Also down to take the track in the afternoon session are Ristananna Tracey and Danielle Dowie, both with great chances of getting medals in the 400m hurdles.

According to the entry list, Dowie, with 57.88, and Tracey, with 58.49, are one-two going into the event.

In the women's 400m, Sandrae Farquharson, who enters the contest with the fifth-fastest time, 53.76, and Chantal Duncan, await their biggest test.

Danny Hawthorne, the team's head coach, said, "the team is in good stead and I think they are ready and raring to go."

As for Elliott and Davis, the first two in action, Hawthorne said: "They are formidable persons and they are going to give us our first medal."

He added that the male sprinters and female 400m hurdlers Dowie and Tracey are all 'quality athletes.'