The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) recently announced its 51-member team to the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championship schedule for Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 19-24, 2016. Former world junior champion, Jaheel Hyde headlines the team. Hyde, a graduate of Wolmer’s Boys school in Kingston, will lead a team of 40 athletes and 11 officials. This is good news for Hyde who by virtue of his 2nd place finish in the 400m hurdles at the Jamaican Trials a week ago (July 1, 2016), in a personal best time of 48.81 seconds has also qualified for the Rio Olympics. The Rio Olympics is set for August 5-22, 2016. Hyde, a very versatile hurdler, has already captured global titles in both the 110m and 400m hurdles events.
Ellis, Bloomfield and Taylor
The 40-member team consists of 22 male and 18 female athletes who are the top Jamaican junior athletes. On the boy’s side, in addition to Hyde; Akeem Bloomfield, Christopher Taylor, Nigel Ellis, Raheem Chambers and Dejour Russell are all set to compete on the track. Obrien Wasome (triple jump) and Sanjae Lawrence (discuss) headline an outstanding list of field athletes. Jamaica should be a medal favorite in the 100m with Ellis and Chambers leading the way. One of the marque events should be the boys 400m. This should be a hotly contested with the Jamaican junior record-holder, Bloomfield (44.93) and reigning world youth champion Taylor set to compete. Sixteen-year old Taylor was 7th in the 400m at the recently concluded 2016 Jamaican Trials (July 1, 2016).
For the Girls
The versatile Junelle Bromfield, winner of the 400m, 800m and 1500m at the 2016 Boys and Girls Championship (“Champs”) earlier this year will lead the team of 18 females in the sprints and field events. Bromfield, a student of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETH), in addition to competing in her individual event, is set to be a major contributor in the relays (4x400). Sprinters Kimone Shaw and Patrice Moody should be favored to medal in the sprints. Shaw, a student from St Jago High School, is the 2016 U18 Carifta champion, has clocked 11.40seconds in the 100m at Champs earlier this year. Moody was the Class1 100m champion for Edwin Allen high school.
Other females who are expected to give a good account of themselves are Rushelle Burton (100m hurdles), Janell Fullerton (shot put), Shanice Love (discus throw), Tiffany James (400m), Shannon Kalawan (400m hurdles) and Shanice Reid.
Danny Hawthorne was named as the head coach, with Neil Harrison, Michael Dyke and Michael Vassell also named as coaches. Ewan Scott was announced as the team leader.
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