The four-month postponement of the Central American Caribbean (CAC) Cross Country Championships has been to Bermuda's detriment.

Instead of the full team of athletes who would have represented the Island if the event was held last November as originally planned, only three persons - Jay Donawa, Jamal Hart and Ashley Couper - will carry Bermuda's hopes next month.

In addition, the athletics meet has been shifted from the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba to Acapulco, Mexico, forcing the Bermudians to confront high altitude and heat. There will be little time for the group to acclimatise as they arrive two days before the March 16 race - but they are determined to give their best anyway.

"We knew the time of this event would not suit some people; some are in the United States preparing for the indoor and outdoor season and others have previous commitments. It was difficult to see us getting the same response that we had for the event in Aruba," acknowledged Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) president Judy Simmons.

"Confirmation of this event just came out in January - we thought it had been cancelled - and the only people we have available are Jay Donawa and Jamal Hart and Ashley Cooper.

"You can send two individuals or a team of no more than six men, so we are sending those two males."

Others originally slated to be part of the men's squad were Tracy Wright and Calvert Lee.

Since the Aruba event was cancelled because of a lack of participation, Simmons said it is difficult to predict how many countries will compete in Mexico.

"I don't know what the numbers will be like, but when you look at the championships when we had them here in 2001 - with all the tragedy that surrounded it like September 11 and the plane crash in Queens, New York - we had up to eight teams. We will have to see how the response to the event in Mexico will be.

"At the CAC Congress at least ten countries had confirmed they will be sending some sort of representation and we weren't one at the time because we weren't there."

Meanwhile, despite the short notice, Couper and Hart are preparing diligently for the tough assignment.

"I am really excited. I am in pretty good shape and I've done a lot more distance training and I have a lot more strength this year than probably ever before," said Couper, speaking from California, USA. "The race is a bit long for me - five miles (8km). My distance is a mile. I have no idea what my chances are in terms of racing. I don't know what shape people are in and who will be there.

"I just think it will be a great experience to go and race against people from so many different countries and represent Bermuda,"

Regarding race conditions in Mexico, the Front Street Mile champion is unruffled.

"There's nothing I can do about it. I'll just deal with it when I get there. People who are training in those elements obviously have a bit of an advantage but, on the day, who knows what will happen," reasoned the 25-year-old, adding that she has been running on rugged terrain recently to get more of a feel for the turf in Mexico.

Outlining the pros and cons of the change in race schedule, Hart said he will be "incorporating more speed work into my programme" in the next fortnight.

"Last November, after our cross-country championships, I was in a lot better shape racing-wise and faster. However, I am much stronger now because I'm doing more mileage; putting in a lot of base work. I still have a couple weeks to try to peak for the event," said the 34-year-old who resumed training ahead of International Race Weekend in January.

Hart hopes Mexico's testing atmosphere is kinder to him than the last time he competed there.

"I am hoping that because it's Acapulco, it's sea level. I raced in Mexico about five years ago and that was high altitude. I didn't run too good at all - between the high altitude and the heat.

"It's a significant temperature change. It would have been nice if we had a few more days to adjust but we're used to just going in and doing our best."

He expressed disappointment that it is first time in about eight years the Island is not fielding a men's team, noting they were in good shape in November to improve on the bronze medal they won on home soil in 2001.