Top juniors bow into action at World Under-20 Champs

TODAY AND for the next four days, Jamaica’s top junior athletes will be seeking glory at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

After a sub-par performance from the senior athletes at the recent Paris Olympic Games, the country’s young athletes will be hoping to maintain Jamaica’s good results at these championships. Two years ago the country had its best ever showing at the championships after mining 16 medals.

Despite not as experienced as the team of two years ago in Cali, Colombia, another good showing is expected as four of the country’s athletes are ranked at number one in their respective events.

Minister of Sport Olivia Grange has sent best wishes to the members of the team ahead of the start of competition. Grange encouraged the young athletes to “enjoy the experience of representing Jamaica on the world stage. The minister said the country was “already very proud of the athletes” for qualifying for the World Under-20 Championships and added that she was “confident that they will do their best”.

Ten Jamaicans, five in the field and five on the track, will be in action in individual events on today’s opening day. Female long jumper Rohanna Sudlow will be the first Jamaican in action. Sudlow will contest Group B of the long jump at 9:15 a.m. (Jamaica time). She has a season’s best of 6.40 metres and will be hoping to be among the top 12 to advance to tomorrow’s final.

Other athletes who will be involved in field events action in the first session are Shaiquan Dunn in the men’s shot put at 11 a.m., Najhada Seymoure and Shamoyea Morris in the women’s discus at 11:45 a.m. and Chavez Penn in the men’s triple jump preliminary round at 12:15 p.m.

Following their bronze medal two years ago after their third-place finish, the Jamaicans will be involved in the preliminary round of the mixed 4x400m relays at 9:30 a.m.

In the preliminary rounds of the 100m four athletes will face the starter as they bid to book spots in the semifinals which will be run in the afternoon session.

Alana Reid with a best of 11.08 seconds and Thieanna Lee Terrelonge (11.13) who are ranked first and third, respectively, will contest the women’s 100m.

Gary Card, ranked third with 10.07, and Deandre Daley, who is ranked ninth with 10.16, will face the starter in the men’s event.

Kitania Headley is down for the women’s 800m heats which start at 12.55 p.m.. Headley has a best of 2:08.98 for the two-lap event.

The following are the athletes in action in individual events today:

Women

Rohanna Sudlow (long jump); Najhada Seymoure and Shamoyea Morris (discus); Alana Reid and Theianna Lee Terrelonge (100m); Kitania Headley (800m).

Men

Shaiquan Dunn (discus); Chavez Penn (triple jump); Gary Card and Deandre Daley (100m).