Young females ready to make statement at National Championships

THIS YEAR has featured talk of new kids on the block, who will be staking a claim for spots on the team to the World Championships in Beijing, China, in August.

While talk is cheap, the young aspirants have been improving their athletic rÈsumÈ. So from today through to Sunday, the announcers at the JAAA Senior Athletic Championships will have a mouthful to say when the line-ups are introduced for the finals of their respective events, starting tomorrow.

The names Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown are the names you expect to hear when talking female track and field in Jamaica. But today, the talk has expanded to include 400m hurdler Kaliese Spencer, one-lap specialist Novlene Williams-Mills and 800m prodigy, Natoya Goule.

Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart, Simone Facey and Schillonie Calvert should not elude discussions when it comes to sprinting in Jamaica, so with the aforementioned biggies, the parlance for the JAAA National Senior Trials is inflated even further.

Buckle up! Fraser-Pryce and Campbell-Brown will be hard pressed to stave off up-and-coming athlete Elaine Thompson, the Jamaica International Invitational 100m winner.

Thompson has been more than impressive this season, chalking up victories which redound to her favourite tag. With a season best 10.84 over the 100 metres, the new kid on the block aspires to national representation on the world stage in August. The well-thinking pundit should not rule out a top-three finish and an automatic spot for her to represent the black, gold, and green in both sprinting events.

The MVP/University of Technology (UTech) setup can anticipate up to five of eight spots in the final of 100m tomorrow evening. Their list of aspirants includes Natasha Morrison, Chanice Bonner, Christania Williams and the big two, Elaine Thompson and national 100m record holder Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The name Simoya Campbell should ring a bell, as she hails from the same MVP camp and is expected to spring a surprise at 800m.

Intercollegiate champion Megan Simmonds and former Olympic 400m hurdles winner Melaine Walker will be competing against 16 other women, among them the Williams sisters, Danielle and Shermaine, in the 100m hurdles.

Walker should not seriously trouble the young trio, who should battle to the line for the entertainment of an appreciative crowd.

In the 400m hurdles, a minimum of 12 competitors are registered to face the starter, among them Janieve Russell and Nikita Tracey. Here Spencer will not lose in the final, barring a disaster.

Another special event that is worth travelling from as far as Westmoreland to see is the 400m. Commonwealth Games medallists Stephenie McPherson, Novlene Williams-Mills, and Christine Day are listed to battle for the title of National senior champion.

This race is hard to call, for while the winner may come from the Glasgow trio, the likes of new guns Shericka Jackson, Chrisann Gordon and Dawnalee Loney, and the more experienced Anastasia LeRoy and Shericka Williams will be hunting relay spots, which will be determined at the wire, like many of the titles up for grabs.

In the jumping disciplines, six aspirants have been confirmed for both the high and long jumps, while for triple jump, seven are signed up, including national record holder Kimberly Williams.