BY PAUL A REID
Observer WriterMONTEGO BAY, St James — Head coach of the Jamaican team to the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships to be held in Donetsk, Ukraine July 10-14 is expecting the team to perform up to expectations after their outstanding performances at the recent JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Junior Championships.The 26-member team was announced by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Wednesday morning and includes three female throwers for the first time ever.Sprinter Michael O’Hara, who will be seeking Jamaica’s first-ever male sprint double at the global age group level, and sprinter hurdler Yanique Thompson, had returned World Youth Leading times at the Trials held two weeks ago.Devaughn Baker is also the 400m World Youth leader with 46.64 seconds.O’Hara had won the 100m in a personal best 10.39 seconds and the 200m in a joint leading 20.75 seconds, while Thompson had improved her World Leading time in the 100m hurdles to 13.23 seconds.O’Hara’s 100m time has since been surpassed by Denmark’s Kristopher Hari’s 10.37 seconds run last weekend.The team is scheduled to leave the island on Monday for Ukraine where they will take part in a one-week camp organised by the IAAF and this Carr said would benefit the team.“This will help in a big way as the athletes will get acclimatised and will get a chance to sharpen up for the competition,” he said.Jamaica won nine medals in the most recent staging, in Lille, France last year, which included four gold medals, a silver and four bronze after just two medals in 2009 in Bressanone, Italy.In addition to O’Hara, Baker and Thompson, Jamaica will have several other highly ranked athletes in the team including Christoff Bryan second in high jump; Yanique McNeil second and Tiffany James number four in girls 400m; Rushelle Burton fourth in 100m hurdles and Jaheel Hyde and Martin Manley at 5th and 6th respectively in the 400m.Team:Girls –Isheka Binns, Rushelle Burton, Saqukine Cameron, Rochelle Frazer, Paul-Ann Gayle, Daeshon Gordon, Tifanny James, Andrenette Knight, Yanique McNeil, Tamara Moncrieffe, Shanice Reid, Jonielle Smith and Yanique Thompson.Boys — Devaughn Baker, Odane Bernard, Clayton Brown, Christoff Bryan, Jordan Chin, Demar Gayle, Jaheel Hyde, Martin Manley, Michael OHara, O’Brian Waysome, Marvin Williams, Okeem Williams and Waseem Williams.Officials — Team manager, Ewan Scott; assistant manager, Nerine Pommells; assistant manager, Hamlin Pagon; head coach, Michael Carr; coaches — Keilando Goburn, Shanikie Osburn, Marlon Gayle, Ruel James; doctor, Tahira Redwood; physio, and Andrea Saunders.View the original article here
World Youth team for one-week camp in Ukraine
