By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterJAMAICA'S junior track and field manager Trevor 'TC' Campbell, is expressing confidence that his team will secure a record medal haul at the 33rd CARIFTA Games in Hamilton, Bermuda.
According to Campbell, the 67-member squad which departs the island on a private jet today for Friday's start of the three-day meet "...is a good team, it's a team that will do well," Campbell said.
Last year, Jamaica won a record 69 medals and despite pointing out that the capabilities of the Under-17 runners "is a little bit unknown", Campbell is of the view that "this group can do much better ... the team is loaded with talent."
Though he is confident, Campbell gave a guarded reaction to-wards predicting possible record breakers besides Under-20 sprin-ters Usain Bolt and Simone Facey.
With regards to Bolt and Facey establishing new marks, he said: "You could come off the top of your head and say those can."
For others though, he explained: "You can never determine that (if record will go). We just finished Champs, some of the athletes may not be as fresh as they should be, so it's very difficult to say if there will be any records," he explained.
Bolt is the current 200 metres record holder (20.43) and with times of 20.28 and 20.13 (joint World Junior Record) since last year's Games.
The girls' 100m record stands at 11.03 seconds. Facey's personal record is 11.22, which was recorded at Champs this year.
Another sprinter carrying huge expectations is Renaldo Rose out the 'Sprint Factory', Camperdown. If pushed, he could go close, possibly under Trinidad & Tobago Darrel Brown's two-year-old record of 10.22 seconds. Rose ran 10.45 at Champs and looks at if he could have run much faster, given the ease with which he won.
TEAM:
GIRLS:
Under 17:- Kimberly Smith (100m, 200m, 4x100), Schilloni Calvert (100m, 200m, 4x100), Julia Smith (400m, 4x100), Bobbi-Gaye Wilkins (400m, 4x400), Vanessa Boyd (800m, 4x400), Jessica McLeod (1500m, 4x400), Doraine Samuels (800m, 1500m), Natasha Ruddock (100m Hurdles, 4x100), Judith Riley (100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, 4x400), Kimberly Williams (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Kimona Smith (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Kenisha Throughsingh (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin), Latanya Nation (Shot Put, Discus).
UNDER 20:- Simone Facey (100m, 4x100), Jodi-Ann Powell (100m, 4x100), Nickeshia Anderson (200m, 4x100, 4x400), Tracey-Ann Rowe (200m, 4x100), Sonita Sutherland (400m, 4x400), Shernetter Stewart (400m, 4x400), Kayann Thompson (800m, 1500m, 4x400), Vanessa Whittle (800m, 1500m, 4x400), Lorain McKenzie (3000m), Latoya Greaves (100m Hurdles, 4x100), Nadina Marsh (High Jump, Heptathlon), Sherene Pinnock (400m Hurdles, 4x400), Trishana McGowan (400m Hurdles, 4x400), Anna-Kay Campbell (High Jump), Rosemarie White (Long Jump, Heptathlon), Tamara Francis (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Althea Duncan (Triple Jump), Keisha Brown (100H, 4x100), Nadia Alexander (Shot Put, Discus), Shaneka Parker (Javelin).
BOYS:
Under-17:- Winston Barnes (100m, 200m, 4x100), Ramalo Turner (100m, 4x100), Favian Blagrove (200m, 400m, 4x100, 4x400), Gawain Gray (400m, 4x400); Theon O'Connor (800m, 4x400), Bengallo Morrison (800m, 1500m, 4x400), Desrick Brooks (1500m, 3000m), Akeem Smith (110m Hurdles, 4x100), Sandor Pennicott (400m Hurdles, 4x400), Omari Dookie (High Jump), Robert Peddlar (Triple Jump), Raymond Brown (Shot Put, Discuss, Javelin), Nicholas Gordon (Long Jump, Triple Jump).
Under 20:- Renaldo Rose (100m, 4x100m), Kevin Stewart (100m, 4x100), Usain Bolt (200m, 4x100, 4x400), Nestar Carter (200m, 4x100), Josef Robertson (400m, 400m Hurdles, 4x400), Michael Gardner (400m, 4x400m, 4x100), Davian Parker (800m, 4x400), Clayton James (800m, 4x400), Kenroy Williams (1500m, 5000m), Andre Drummond (1500m, 5000m), Patrick Lee (110m Hurdles, 4x100), Markino Buckley (110m & 400m Hurdles, 4x400), Carlos Mattis (High Jump, Triple Jump), Alain Bailey (High Jump, Long Jump), Wilbert Walker (Long & Triple Jump), Camoi Hood (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin), Shawn Haughton (Shot Put, Discus).
OFFICIALS:- Trevor Campbell (manager) and Delroy Francis and Carol Long (assistant managers). Leacroft Bolt, Kevin Pryce, Michael Vassell and Marlene Hawthorne (coaches). Andrea Graveney (physiotherapist) and Dr Patrick Roberts (medical).
