Newly-crowned Athlete of the Year Brian Wellman has confirmed he will not be available for the upcoming Heritage Classic, but organisers are still confident of putting on some high quality events at the National Stadium on June 11.

Triple-jumper Wellman has committed himself to a meet which begins in Germany two days after the Heritage Classic.

"Had the Heritage Classic gone ahead and taken place when it was originally scheduled on May 28 I would have been able to compete without any problems,'' Wellman said last night.

"I have competed in just one Heritage Classic and that was in the 100 (metres) in 1991. I ran the 100 because there was no pit for me to do the triple jump.

"I am leaving here on June 9 for Europe and will compete in my first meet in Germany on July 13. I hope to enter in at least three meets in Europe, two in Germany and the other in Stockholm, Sweden.'' With Clarance Saunders still abroad recovering from knee surgery and Troy Douglas in British Columbia, Wellman would have been the star attraction at the meet.

"Hopefully the three meets will be sufficient to help me reach good form for the World Championships which will be in Germany in August,'' said the 25-year-old Wellman.

"It's still early in the year as far as my fitness is concerned. I have only competed in two outdoor meets so far, both were in California a few weeks ago.

Looking ahead to Europe, it is a crucial time because a lot of the world class performances will be there using the meets for the same purpose of preparing for the Worlds.'' Most of the island's top runners will be participating, including Marathon Derby winners Kavin Smith and Anna Eatherley, with one of the feature events being the 5,000 metres for men which will be sponsored by Fidelity International and will include Terrance Armstrong and Jay Donawa and a couple of overseas competitors.

"Jay is here and Terrance has promised to come back and he will bring a set of twins who are running comparatively to him,'' said Heritage Meet committee member Mike Charles last evening.

"Terrance and his friends have promised to double and run the 1,500 also. The 5,000 is going to be an excellent event and will be the feature event of the evening. Also we have a fella from Connecticut with a Greek name, Spiros Barios, who won the 5,000 at the stadium last year.

"Because he was so kind to us last year by staying for the event we've asked him to come back this year. We are hoping also to get two women from Boston.'' Eatherley, Jennifer Fisher and Karen Adams are expected to provide the excitement in the 1,500 metres women's race.

Eddie Fisher, whose responsibility is sponsorship for the meet disclosed yesterday that some new sponsors have been secured with Barritt's and Estrella Imports coming on board to join ACE and Fidelity from last year.

No overseas sprinters are expected but because of a heavy subscription to the sprints, the organisers have scheduled heats starting at 5.45 for the host of promising local youngsters.

"We're talking about Keivon Richardson, Donte Hunt, Devon Bean and in the longer distances Sharif Taylor and Michael Donawa,'' said Charles.

BTFA vice president Stan Douglas also put forward the name of Marco Perinchief who has just moved into the seniors and will compete in the 800 metres.

A meeting will be held tomorrow evening at the Department of Youth and Sports (6.30 p.m.) for all those athletes under 20 who may be interested in attempting to qualify for the Junior Pan Am Games in mid-July in Winnipeg, Canada.

"It's important that they make themselves known to us,'' said Douglas.

SET FOR SHOWDOWN -- Kavin Smith (left) and Terrance Armstrong will meet in the 5,000 metres of the Heritage Classic next week.