Young stars battle for CARIFTA spots

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

THE country's leading junior athletes will be seeking places on the national team for next month's CARIFTA Games, at the two-day trials which will get under way at Stadium East this morning at 11:00.

Athletes will be competing in Under-17 and Under-20 categories, as they seek to represent Jamaica at the meet slated for the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, from April 23-25.

Opening-day action will include 30 finals - 15 on the track and another 15 in field events. The first track final is the girls' Under-20 3000 metres, while the first field event final will be the girls' Under-20 long jump.

With the trials being held so close to the month-end GraceKennedy ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships, high-quality performances are expected as athletes should be nearing their peak.

One of today's highlights should definitely be the boys' Under-20 100 metres, as a quality field with the country's most promising sprinters, led by Bridgeport High's Jahzeel Murphy, is expected to lead the charge.

Murphy looking awesome

Murphy, who has returned in fine style this season after missing most of last year due to a hamstring injury, has looked awesome since his return. In a mouth-watering clash he will be challenged by the twin-attack from Wolmerians Odean Skeen and Julian Forte, along with former Old Harbour High sprinter Kemar Bailey-Cole, who has shown great improvement since joining Racers Track Club.

In the girls' Under-20, local fans will get another chance to see Edwin Allen High's outstanding Christiana Williams.

Williams, who will not be eligible to compete at Champs, has been blazing the track all season and at last Saturday's Gibson Relays she exercised that form when she forced the outstanding Carrie Russell to dig deep in an invitational clash, as she finished a close second in a personal best 11.49 seconds.

Vere Technical's Deandra Whitehorne, if fit, and Herbert Morrison Technical's Sedaith Palmer are expected to add to the excitement in this event.

Manchester High's outstanding long jumper, Chanice Porter, will battle Camperdown High's Nickeava Wilson in the girls' Under-20 long jump final, while Calabar High's outstanding thrower, Traves Smikle, will also be in action today as the World Junior finalist will compete in his pet event, the boys' Under-20 discus final