Jamaica look to dominate again at 52nd Carifta Games

REGIONAL junior athletes will begin battling for glory today at this year’s 52nd staging of the three-day Carifta Games. The prestigious Caribbean meet is being hosted by Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The competition, which features under-17 and under-20 athletes, has been dominated over the years by Jamaica. Following last year’s haul of 84 medals – including 45 gold, 23 silver, and 16 bronze – Jamaica athletes are expected to continue their dominance and could even surpass last year’s medal tally.

Several local junior athletes are ranked in the top five in the world. Sprinter Sabrina Dockery, hurdler Daniel Clarke, and discus thrower Joseph Salmon are the very best of the lot, ranking at the top of the world in their respective events.

Following her 11.08-second run in the semi-finals of the Girls’ Class One 100 metres at the recent ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, Dockery of Lacovia High is the fastest under-20 girl in the world.

Kingston College’s Clarke earned his place among the elite even before the inter-secondary championships, his 13.06 seconds in the 110m hurdles at the Carifta Trials makes him the fastest boy under 20 years old in the world.

Jamaica College’s Salmon is also the top-ranked under-20 male athlete in the world, after his personal-best 62.14 metres discus throw at Champs.

Wolmer’s Boys’ Gary Card finds himself in rarified air in two disciplines.

20.53 SEASON’S BEST

His semi-final run of 10.06 seconds in the Boys’ Class One 100 metres at Champs leaves him ranked at number two in the world. Card, who clocked a season’s best 20.53 seconds earlier this year, is ranked fifth in the 200m.

With the annual Penn Relays set to begin next Thursday, the athletes should all be in top form.

Jamaica’s medal tally should get off the ground early, with four field event finals set for this morning’s session, beginning at 8:10 a.m. Jamaica time. Zavien Bernard and Sackoya Palmer will contest the Under-17 girls’ high jump final at 8:10 a.m. Five minutes later, Jamie Lee Tulloch and Davieka Lewis will compete in the Under-17 girls’ shot put final.

Three more field event finals will be contested in the second session. The Boys’ Under-17 triple jump and Under-20 discus begin at 3:15 p.m. The Girls’ Under-20 triple jump starts at 5 p.m.

Amani Phillips and Khi-Anthony Hall will compete in the triple jump, while Joseph Salmon and Devonte Edwards will take on the discus throw. Sabrina Atkinson and Rohanna Sudlow will represent Jamaica in the Girls’ Under-20 triple jump.

The morning session will also feature track action with the semi-finals of the 100m and 400m. The finals are scheduled for the afternoon session, beginning at 3 p.m.

The Under-17 girls 400m will be first on the track at 8:23 a.m., with Shameika McLean and Tracey Ann Evans at the start. In the boys’ equivalent, Rushaine Richards and Diwayne Sharpe will represent Jamaica.

The Under-20 Girls’ 400m semi-finals follow at 8:55 a.m., with Shevaughn Thomas and Abrina Wright in action. At 9:10 a.m., Tajh-Marques White and Marcinho Rose will compete in the Boys’ Under-20 event.

The morning session wraps up with the 100m semi-finals. Adora Campbell and Shayon Smith will contest the Under-17 Girls’ event at 10:27 a.m., followed by Michael Graham and Jaydon Collins in the Boys’ Under-17 race at 10:34 a.m.

Defending 100m champion Dockery and defending 200m champion Shanoya Douglas will headline the Under-20 Girls’ 100m, which begins at 10:40 a.m. Jamal Stephenson and Antonio Powell will face the starter in the Boys’ Under-20 100m at 11:01 a.m.