JAAA names strong 70-member CARIFTA team

JAAA names strong 70-member CARIFTA team

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

MONTEGO BAY, St James — The Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) yesterday named a powerful 70-member team to defend Jamaica's title at the 40th CARIFTA Games to be held at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, Easter weekend, April 23-25.

Calabar's Traves Smikle, the third best junior discus thrower ever and Holmwood Technical's world junior leading quarter-miler Chris-Ann Gordon will lead the team that will see St Andrew High's Leacroft Bolt as head coach.

Jamaica College's Rohan Walker, who was left off his school's team at Boys' Champs, has been named in the team and will contest the Under-17 200m/400m events.

There were some notable omissions, however, including new national junior record holder in the female high jump, Kimberly Williamson of Edwin Allen High, who could only manage third at the Trials held March 19-20 at the Stadium East field.

Her teammate Ristananna Tracey, the defending Under-20 400m hurdles champion is also out, as she was held out of the Trials by her coach Michael Dyke, who told the Observer he could not risk any injuries, given the closeness of the Gibson Relays, Trials and Girls' Champs.

St Elizabeth Technical's Opal James, who was second in the CARIFTA Games Under-17 long jump last year and who won the long and triple jumps at Trials, was not named and it is understood she is nursing a slight injury.

Munro College's Waynee Hyman, who was second in the Under-20 boys' 400m and also second in Class One at Champs, was also left out.

Jamaica has dominated the regional championships that was first held in 1972 and has won the lion's share of the medals over the last 25 stagings or so.

Jamaican athletes won 72 medals last year to top the medals table in the Cayman Islands with Trinidad and Tobago next on 40 and The Bahamas third with 29.

Bolt said that he was confident the Jamaican team would continue its high level performance and said competing in front of a home crowd will push them to do even better.

"I am expecting stellar performances," he told the Observer. "We have a well-balanced team with some superb athletes and they will do well."

Team: Under-17 Girls — Shauna Helps, Shanice Bonner, Jonielle Smith, Yanique McNeil, Kissi Ann Brown, Lisa Buchanan, Alethia McLaughlin, Yanique Thompson, Peta Gay 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 Ohara, 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, Petergay Reid, Nickeva Wilson, Avril McGhie, Kellion Knibb, Sashagay Marston.

Under-20 Boys — Kemar Bailey-Cole, Jazeel Murphy, Kemarley Brown, Odail Todd, Rusheen McDonald, Brian Smith, Andrew 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, Javier Bell.

Coaches — Leacroft Bolt, Steve Cole, Corey Bennett, Leaford Grant, Dwight Jones and Keilando Goburn.

Management team — Keith Wellington, head of delegation, Langley Robinson, manager, Jennifer Brown and Sonia Rose, assistant managers, Omar Savon, team doctor, Marlon Wilkie, masseur.