Jamaica name 70-strong Carifta team

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) yesterday named a 70-member team for participation at the 2011 Carifta Games, scheduled for the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, from April 22-25.

Twenty Under-20 boys and 19 Under-20 girls were named, as well as 16 Under-17 boys and 15 Under-17 girls for the Easter weekend championship.

Former Old Harbour High schoolboy, Kemar Bailey Cole, who now works out of the Racers Track Club camp, leads the Under-20 boys 'team, along with Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/ GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships 100m champion and 200m bronze medallist, Jazeel Murphy, of Bridgeport High.

participation

Other notable inclusions are record-breaking throwers Traves Smikle and Oshinia Miller (Calabar), IAAF World Youth Championships 400m finalist and Champs gold medallist, Javere Bell (Seaforth), and 2009 Under-17 100m hurdles champion, Stefan Fennel (Kingston College).

Calabar speedster Michael O'Hara will feature in the Under-17 boys category, as will Jamaica College's Rohan Walker, who played no part in his team's Champs victory after he was barred from participation by the school.

The outstanding Kellion Knibb (St Jago), fresh from her record-breaking performance at Champs, Shericka Jackson (Vere), Simoya Campbell (Spaldings), Chris-Ann Gordon (Holmwood), Janieve Russell (Holmwood), Chanice Porter (Manchester) and Shauna Helps (Wolmer's) have also been included in the squad.

St Andrew High's Leacroft Bolt has been named the team's head coach, with Langley Robinson listed as team manager and Keith Wellington, head of delegation.

Jamaica topped the field at last year's Games at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands with 72 medals, which included 37 gold, 22 silver and 13 bronze.

Chad Wright, who set a new mark in the male under-20 discus, doubles by Odean Skeen in the Under-17 100 and 200 metres and exceptional displays by Natoya Goule and Kemoy Campbell in the Under-20 male and female middle-distance running events highlighted the country's exploits last year.

TEAM

Under-17 girls: Shauna Helps, Shanice Bonner, Jonielle Smith, Yanique McNeil, Kissi Ann Brown, Lisa Buchanan, Alethia McLaughlin, Yanique Thompson, PetaGaye Williams, Kimone Green, Krista Gay Taylor, Shardia Lawrence, Claudette Allen, Gleneve Grange, Paul Ann Gayle.

Under-17 boys: Raheem Robinson, Jevaughn Minzie, Rohan Walker, Khadeesh Willis, Keneil Harrison, Kevon Robinson, Herbert Thomas, Orville Dixon, Tyler Mason, Michael O'Hara, Rosean Maxwell, Marvin Williams, Christoffe Bryan, Julanie Walker, Christopher Brown, Alec Verne Longmore.

Under-20 girls: Christania Williams, Deandre Whitehorne, Shericka Jackson, Celia Walters, Chris Ann Gordon, Olivia James, Simoya Campbell, Chantal Duncan, Taska Johnson, Chrisdale McCarthy, Megan Simmonds, Janieve Russell, Rushell Clayton, Chanice Porter, Petergaye Reid, Nickeva Wilson, Avril McGhee, Kellion Knibb, Sashagay Marston.

Under-20 boys: Kemar Bailey-Cole, Jazeel Murphy, Kemarley Brown, Odail Todd, Rusheen McDonald, Brian Smith, André Hosey, Orane Wint, Rogeek Rochester, Khari Bowen, Stefan Fennell, Omar McLeod, Demar Robinson, Clive Pullen, Kazuma Davis, Xavier Boland, Oshinia Miller, Traves Smikle, Jeffrey King, Javere Bell.