The axe has fallen on this month's Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Cross Country Championships in Jamaica due to lack of interest.

Bermuda were among a short list of only seven countries who had officially registered to compete in this year's races, scheduled for February 15.

But, as with the 2002 championships which were due to be held in Aruba, organisers have decided to scrap the event.

Bermuda hosted the races in 2001 while Mexico was the venue for last year's championships at which the Island was represented by a small contingent.

According to Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons, only seven out of a potential 35 countries registered prior to the October deadline.

"Due to a lack of interest from some of the other countries in the region, they (CAC officials) had no other choice but to cancel the championships," confirmed Simmons.

"Jamaica were destined to hold the championships this year and everything was going ahead as planned. Gerry Swan (Bermuda national coach) had been appointed as technical delegate and had gone down to make an on-site visit. We had planned to send a team there but in the end it just didn't happen."

The CAC Championships traditionally provide athletes an opportunity to qualify for the World Cross Country Championships, though athletes are still required to meet International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) qualifying standards.

"Cross country is not part of the Olympics but there is the World Cross Country Championships at which every region is supposed to have a qualifier who then goes on to the World Championships. But competing well at the CAC Championships doesn't necessarily qualify athletes for the Worlds," explained Simmons.

"In order to qualify for the Worlds certain criteria must be followed. You must qualify in your region first and with our region not having a qualifier this year it has become a problem for everyone."

Discussions on the future of the regional championships will be held during the upcoming CAC executive council meeting which will be held in Bermuda in conjunction with April's CARIFTA Games.