File photos
From left, Natasha Ruddock, Calabar's Ramone McKenzie and Yohan Blake blazing down the stretch.

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Starting today at GC Foster College in Angels , St Catherine, the island's top junior athletes face off for places on Jamaica's team to the 12th International Associations of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The two-day trials start at 10:30 a.m. with the boys' Under-17 discus final.

World Youth 200m champion, Calabar's Ramone McKenzie, is doubtful for the event at this weekend's trial as he has not fully recovered from an injury he picked up at the Penn Relays.

Michael Clarke, coach of McKenzie, explained: "He may run, but if he is running he will run the 100m."

Headliners

While many will miss McKenzie if he doesn't face the starter, there is a long list of headliners such as Yohan Blake, Nickel Ashmeade, Dexter Lee, Jura Levy, Carrie Russell, Natasha Ruddock, Janelle Gordon and Shermaine Williams.

In the boys' Under-20 100m, most eyes will be on Blake, who has not competed since pulling up at the Carifta Games in April.

In this field, Blake, Lee, McKenzie, Warren Weir, Oshane Bailey and Ashmeade should set up a cracker. They should also battle for the top two spots in the 200m.

In the girls' equivalent, Russell, who won bronze in Beijing in 2006, and Levy, will renew battle. In three major confrontations this season, Russell won at Carifta trials, lost to Levy at Champs then returned to win at the Carifta Games.

The Edwin Allen trio of Shawn Anderson, Kaceya Jones and Gayon Evans and Immaculate's Daniel Jeffrey should also add spice to the field, and also the 200m.

In the girls' 100m hurdles, Ruddock and Williams, both World Youth silver medallists from 2005 and 2007, respectively, will clash for the first time this season.

Collegiate circuit

Both athletes were kept apart on the American Collegiate circuit, setting up a compelling battle tomorrow.

In the girls' 400m hurdles, an interesting clash looms between Manchester High's Shana-Gay Tracey, Nikita Tracey of Edwin Allen and Andrea Reid of Holmwood.

In the girls' 400m, Latoya McDermott, Kayon Robinson, Denesha Morris and Antoinique Campbell are the top athletes, while Dwayne Extol, Rolando Berch and Akino Ming should be among the boys' 400m finalists.