The right ‘Card’ to play

JAMAICA’S GARY Card and Deandre Daley have the biggest chance of winning a World Under-20 Championships 100 metres title for the island since Dexter Lee defended his title 14 years ago.

The World Under-20 Championships begin in Lima, Peru, in a week and Card, the national champion with a nippy 10.07 seconds is the number-three athlete in the world over the distance this year.

Lee, the only athlete to ever win the blue-riband event back-to-back, did so in 2008 in Budgoszcz, Poland, when he clocked 10.40 seconds, and two years later, in Moncton, Canada, when he went even faster, clocking 10.21 for the successful title defence.

Card, who is conditioned by Stephen Francis is a whisker behind event leader, Bradley Nkoana of South Africa, who has gone 10.03 this season, and Jinxian He of China, who, at his fastest this season, stopped the clock at 10.06.

Based in Italy for the past few weeks with the MVP group, Card, who is also a quality 200-metre athlete, is expected to be even faster, with a sub-10 clocking likely for the winner in Peru.

Daley of Herbert Morrison Technical, who finished second to Card at the national championships in 10.16 and who is ranked ninth in the event, cannot be ruled out either.

Daley finished second two seaons ago at the ISSA Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships in a personal best 10.08, behind national junior record holder, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, who won in 9.99. He has the potential to go much faster but has been slowed by injuries.

Once he is fully fit, he should not be written off and will definitely be motivated by Lee, who was also conditioned by coach Claude Gant at Herbert Morrison Technical and who is a part of the national coaching group heading for Lima.

Grant makes the trip after the late withdrawal of coach Corey Bennett.