Youngsters jump into 100 World Champs mix

WHEN COMPETITION gets underway on Thursday’s opening day of the National Senior Championships (Trials) inside the National Stadium, one of the events to be contested will be the preliminary round of the women’s 100 metres.

Known as the blue riband event of track and field, the country has had exceptional performances on the international stage, but the preliminary round is all about the future.

With question signs surrounding the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson Herah, two of the country’s most successful athletes in the event and who were part of the 1-2-3 finish in the final at last year’s World Athletics Championships, it will be interesting to see which athletes will step up to the plate.

At least two outstanding juniors are expected to be in the final on Friday and they could force themselves into the top three, booking their tickets to Budapest.

FRASER-PRYCE SEASON DEBUT

Fraser-Pryce will make her season debut at Trials, while Thompson Herah, who opened her campaign eight days ago at the JAAA All Comers meet, was less than impressive, despite winning the event. Her 11.24 seconds seems a little way off the pace, with a host of young athletes ready to pounce.

On the other hand, Fraser-Pryce, who has a bye for the World Championships, being the defending champion, is only expected to contest one or two rounds of the event.

Defending champion and last year’s World Championships silver medallist, Shericka Jackson, with a season’s best 10.78 seconds clocking, will start as favourite to retain her national title.

National junior record holder, Alana Reid, with her 10.92 seconds clocking at the ISSA Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, and World Under-20 champion Tina Clayton, with her personal best of 10.95 seconds done last year, could both finish in the top three and become each the youngest ever to represent the country in the event as an individual on the global stage.

Reid has been in fantastic form all season and has competed well among her seniors, and another big run is expected from her.

Coach Stephen Francis, the man now in charge of Clayton at MVP, is yet to show his hand with his talented charge, who has been quiet all seasIon.

Francis knows how to get his athletes ready for these occasions and there are whispers that young Clayton is ‘killing it’ in training and a big time is expected. According to the rumours, challenging Jackson for the national title is not out of the question.

Others like Briana Williams, who is getting back to good form after early-season injury with back-to-back 11.04 seconds clockings, Kevona Davis, who is in the form of her life at the collegiate level and has a season’s best of 11.04 seconds, along with Kemba Nelson, who is aiming for a second successive 100-metre spot at the World Championships, are expected to be part of a dogfight.

While the young turks look set for special performances, others like Shashalee Forbes with a season’s best of 10.98, along with Natasha Morrison, Joniel Smith and Natalliah Whyte, form an older guard whose experience cannot be ignored.