Anthony Foster, Freelance Reporter

( L - R ) Latoya McDermott ... chasing a medal in the 400m. - Errol Anderson photo Shawna Anderson - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer Yohan Blake blazing down the stretch. Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland:

Yohan Blake is talking big as Jamaica begins its quest at the 12th International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Junior Championships here, at the Bydgoszcz Stadium today.

Blake, the national junior record holder at 10.11 seconds, all but said he would be winning the boys' 100m title.

"If anyone here can run as fast as that (10.11), it is me," he said at the press conference yesterday.

Blake, along with World Youth champion, Dexter Lee, will face some of the best juniors in the world when the 100m preliminary round runs off today.

American Terrell Wilks, on paper with his 10.19 personal and season best, should be the Jamaicans' main threat in the event.

Having an advantage

However, Blake believes he has an advantage over his main opponent.

"I have been to Bydgoszcz before, so I do know the stadium well. I would like to improve on my personal best of 10.11," he said.

In the girls' event, Edwin Allen's pair of Kaycea Jones and Shawna Anderson are Jamaica's entries.

American Jeneba Tarmoh, with a personal best of 11.21, should start as the favourite, while Bahamian Sheniqua Ferguson (11.38) should be in the mix.

The semi-finals of the girls' and boys' 100m will be run later in the day.

Meanwhile, in the field events, there is bad news for Jamaica as Misha-Gaye DaCosta, the high jump silver medallist from last year's World Youth Games, will not be competing, as she doesn't appear to have fully recovered from an unknown ailment for which she had been hospitalised.

Given the unfortunate circumstance, only one Jamaican, Tarik Batchelor, will take part in the field events on the opening day, in the boys' long jump.

Antonique Campbell, though, will be the first Jamaican in action.

Girls' 400m

Campbell, along with Latoya McDermott, the World Youth silver medallist from last year, will carry Jamaica's flag in the girls' 400m.

Campbell will start in heat one, while McDermott will be in heat three of the event, which has Folashade Abugan of Nigeria as the early favourite, with a personal best of 50.89.

Florida State University's Kevin Williams, a late addition to the team, and Akino Ming, are Jamaica's entries in the boys' 400m, while Natoya Goule is expected to face much stiffer challenges than she's used to at home, when she lines up in the girls' 800m.