Alana Reid, fresh off her Olympic debut in Paris, and Wolmer’s Boys’ Gary Card headline the Jamaican team at the U20 World Championships, while standout triple jumper Jaydon Hibbert is among the notable absentees.
Hibbert, 19, the U20 world record holder and defending champion in the triple jump, withdrew from the championships due to an injury sustained at the Paris Olympics, where he finished fourth.
US-born Skyler Franklin, winner of the girls’ under-20 400m at the national championships and the fifth fastest runner in the world at that level with a best time of 51.01 seconds, will also miss the championships as her paperwork to officially represent Jamaica has not yet been completed.
Nevertheless, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has assembled a talented 43-man squad that should do well at the championships in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31.
Reid, who finished third in the 200m in Cali, Colombia two years ago, was a member of the women’s 4x100m team that finished fifth in Paris. She will compete in the 100m in Peru, an event in which she is the world’s leading under-20 runner with her season’s best of 11.09 seconds.
Card will be the top-ranked Jamaican male at the meet, where he is third in the 200m with his best time of 20.50 seconds. He is fourth in the 100m with his season and personal best of 10.07.
Jamaica’s athletes will be looking to improve on their medal haul from last year, when they won a record 16 medals, the best haul ever at these championships.
Team: Girls –Abigail Campbell, Abrina Wright, Alana Reid, Alliah Baker, Anecia Campbell, Briana Campbell, Deschanique Douglas, Habiba Harris, Jade Ann Dawkins, Jaeda Robinson, Kellyann Carr, Kerrica Hill, Nejhada Seymore, Natassia Fletcher, Rohana Sudlow, Sabrina Dockery, Shanaye Morris, Shanniqua Williams, Shanique Williams, Theiana-Lee Terrelonge
Boys –Chad Hendricks, Chavez Penn, Daniel Beckford, Daniel Wright, Deandre Daley, Demarco Bennett, Gary Card, Jabari Matheson, Jace Witter, Javaughn Pinnock, Junior Gallimore, Kemarrio Bygrave, Kyle Richards, Marcinho Rose, Nyrone Wade, Omary Robinson, Richard Hall , Romario Hines, Shadane Smith, Shaquan Dunn, Trevoy Smith.
