Three big international meets await junior trialists

WHEN THE four-day JAAA/Puma MCGES National Junior and Senior Championships get under way tomorrow inside the National Stadium, the nation’s top under-18 and under-20 athletes will be seeking spots on the national team for three overseas meets

The meets are the NCAC Under-18 Championships in Costa Rica, the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago and the Junior Pan American Championships in Puerto Rico.

World Under-20 100-metre silver medallist, Serena Cole, and 200-metre gold medallist, Brianna Lyston, will be the leading women competing among the under-20s, with the likes of Alana Reid, Tia and Tina Clayton set to compete among the seniors.

Cole, now a member of the MVP Track Club, will contest the 100 metres where her 11.17 seconds done in the semifinals of the Class One event at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships making her as the quickest among the competitors.

After missing the final then through injury, she has only competed once in the 100 metres a few weeks ago, winning the event at an All Comers meet at Jamaica College’s Ashenheim Stadium in 11.47 seconds.

Cole is expected to battle her former Edwin Allen High teammates, Tonie Ann Forbes and Thieanna-Lee Terrelonge.

While it has not been smooth sailing for Lyston since her success in Cali, Colombia, last year in the half-lap event, with a season’s best of 23.05 seconds done in Baton Rouge in May, the Louisanna State University freshman, has the fastest time going into the Trials and should easily win the event.

Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell will run with the seniors in the 400 metres, paving the way for former Clarendon College quarter miler, Dejanea Oakley, to claim a spot on the team in the one-lap event. A freshman at the University of Texas, Oakley was a finalist a year ago at the World Under-20 Championships and has a season best of 51.79 seconds.

Top junior sprinters Bouwahgjie Nkrumie of Kingston College and Herbert Morrison Technical’s DeAndre Daley will be competing with the seniors in the 100 metres, leaving the way for a very competitive race.

Jeevan Newby of Motorcade Track Club, with a season best of 10.36 seconds, will battle Junior Harris of Camperdown, whose best is 10.40, and Excelsior High’s Damor Miller, with a season’s best, 10.41.

Among the boys, both 200 and 400 metres should also be close affairs.

In the 200 metres, Jamaica College’s Malique Smith Band leads the way with a season’s best of 20.69 seconds but will have to see off St Elizabeth Technical High School’s Javorne Dunkley, whose best is 20.88 s and Edwin Allen High School’s Delano Kennedy, 21.21 seconds.

Kennedy, with a season best of 45.27 seconds, will lead the way in the 400 metres where he will be challenged by Smith Band, whose best is 45.74 and St Elizabeth Technical’s Jasuana Dennis, who has a best time of 45.87.

A keen battle is also expected in the 400-metre hurdles as Kingston College’s Antonio Forbes, 50.68, and St Elizabeth Technical’s Shamer Blake, 50.76, don’t have much between them.

Among the under-18 women, Sabrina Dockery out of Lacovia High School looks set for a 200m-400m double.

Others expected to do well include St Jago High School’s sprint hurdles trio of Camoy Binger, Bryana Davidson and Brianna Campbell, with Holy Childhood High School’s Abigail Wolfe favoured for the 100-metre title.

Edwin Allen High School’s Antonio Powell will be hoping for a 200-400 metres double among the under-18 men, while St Elizabeth Technical’s Tremaine Todd looks a safe bet in the 100 metres.