Taylor headlines WYC team

WORLD youth leading 400m runner Christopher Taylor of Calabar High headlines a list of 29 athletes -13 boys, 16 girls - named to represent Jamaica at the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Youth Championships (WYC) at the Pascal Guerrero Stadium in Cali, Colombia, from July 15-19.

Taylor, 15, has been in stupendous form all season. He posted a personal best and world youth leading 45.55 seconds to win his heat of the 400m and finish third overall at the final Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) All Comers meet on June 13.

A week later, he won the event at the JAAA National Junior Championships ahead of his Calabar teammate, Anthony Carpenter, who has also been listed to compete in the event in Cali.

The girls team is headed by sensational St Jago High School sprinter Kimone Shaw, who will race in the 100m, while Wolmer's Girls' School hurdler Janeek Brown, the reigning national youth champion, competes in the girls 100m hurdles.

The remaining team members on the boys side are Xavior Angus and AndrÈ Morrison - 100m, Michael Bentley and Angus - 200m, Leon Clark - 800m, Paketo Dudley - long jump, Lushane Wilson - high jump, Kevin Nedrick - shot put, Alex Robinson and Chadrick Brown - 110m hurdles, and Leonardo Ledgister and Jauvaney James - 400m hurdles.

The girls side includes Vanesha Pusey - 100m, Shaniel English and Shellece Clark - 200m, Satanya Wright, and Janiel Moore - 400m, Chrissani May - 800m, Tisanna Hickling - long jump, Sahjay Stevens - shot put, Devia Brown and Shyledeen Smith - discus, Janeek Brown and Sidney Marshall - 100m hurdles, Junelle Bloomfield and Shian Salmon - 400m hurdles, and Zinedine Russell in the heptathlon.

The management team is headed by team manager Jeffery Gordon, with Nerine Pommells his assistant. Michael Dyke will be head coach with other coaches including Kirk Brown, Keilando Goulbourne, Marlon Gayle and Megan Wilson. Team doctor is Dr Perci Hamilton.

Jamaica's best showing at a WYC was the last edition in Donetsk, Ukraine, where the country won eight medals with six gold and two bronze.