International 10K injury victim Jay Donawa has travelled to the CAC cross country championships in St Lucia after all -- but is still not expected to take part.

The executive of Bermuda Track and Field Aassociation (BTFA) decided to allow him to travel to the Caribbean island as what road running president Stephen DeSilva described as a "goodwill gesture''.

"He will represent the Island in the major festivals coming up -- whether that be the Pan American Games or whatever -- so we have sent him down as an observer and really as an investment to show our faith in him,'' said DeSilva.

"He has worked awfully hard to get to this point and as a gesture of goodwill it seemed a good idea to send Jay with the rest of the team.

"It was disappointing what happened and it was obviously not of his own doing.'' Donawa suffered a fractured collar bone when he stumbled and fell in the early stages of the 10K a week ago.

A survivor from the team that earned Bermuda a bronze medal in the CAC cross-country championships in Grenada two years ago, he was taken to hospital where an X-ray revealed a break on the clavicle on his right side.

He was ordered to wear an orthopaedic sling and treated with anti-inflammatory drugs for the pain and, while his doctor advised him to rest for about three weeks, was told he could make up his own mind about running this Sunday.

DeSilva disclosed that Donawa, officially replaced in the team by Jamal Hart, might indeed still run if he felt up to it. But he added: "That's up to him and the national coach. My understanding is he has been in a lot of pain and the medical advice is for him not to run. But if he feels he can run around, he has entered.

"My perception, though, is that he will not run and nothing is expected of him.'' If Donawa does stay on the sidelines, he will be left to cheer the efforts of team-mates Terrance Armstrong, Kavin Smith, Tracy Wright and Hart against such powerhouses from the CAC region as Mexico and Jamaica over the 12K course.

Bermuda's team have had plenty of experience over that distance with the cross-country programme over the last year being based on it.

But DeSilva expects the St Lucia terrain to be more solid than similar courses here.

"One of the distinctions of CAC is that the terrain has to be fairly solid.

Here we often run on beaches, such as Warwick Long Bay, but there they may run on a golf course. But it's even for everybody.

"The trick is to be consistent as a team.

"My perception is that Terrance and Kavin will run together, while Tracy and Jamal will do the same. If Terrance and Kavin finish in the top ten, that would be great. If it's top 20, that would be OK.

"But we also expect Tracy and Jamal to place well.'' JAY DONAWA -- has travelled to St. Lucia but is unlikely to compete in tomorrow's CAC championships.