JAAA Names Deep Junior Squads for NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships in Mexico

The Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) has finalised a formidable junior roster for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Under-18 and Under-23 Athletics Championships.

Reigning women's 200 metres national champion Alanna Reid will lead Team Jamaica, supported by teenage sprint prospect Kai Kelly.

Kelly, who runs for Jamaica College, is among the headline names on the Under-18 side. He is entered for the boys' 100 metres and the 4x100 metres relay.

Kingston College's Jason Pitter will also draw attention in the 400 metres and the 4x400 metres relay. Pitter became the first Class Two Champs athlete to break 46 seconds and ranks as the joint second-fastest Under-18 quarter-miler in the world this year. He goes into the meet as the strong favourite for gold.

St Jago's Marquis Page, who set a boys' Class Two 110 metres hurdles record of 12.98 seconds at Champs earlier this year, is another athlete to watch. He will compete in the 110m hurdles with Brandon Bennett.

On the girls' Under-18 team, reigning national champions Malayia Duncan and Azaria Harris will carry hopes in the 100m and 200m, respectively.

Edwin Allen sprint hurdler Tashana Godfrey arrives with high expectations and a busy programme. The girls' Class Three 80m hurdles record holder, with a mark of 10.80 seconds, is down for the 100m hurdles, the 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x100m relay.

Multi-event talent Zavien Bernard has also signed up for a demanding schedule across the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

Jamaica's Under-23 squad brings together several athletes who have already performed at world level.

Lavanya Williams and Sabrina Dockery will run the women's 100m, while Williams will also team with Reid over 200m. Both sprinters have gone under 11 seconds this season, with personal bests of 10.95 for Williams and 10.92 for Dockery.

Reid, the national junior 100m record holder, will test herself over the half-lap after clocking 22.29 on the way to her first national 200m title.

Two-time world Under-20 100m hurdles champion Kerrica Hill will enter the event with strong credentials, alongside world Under-20 silver medallist Alexis James.

Former St Jago High standout Jade-Ann Dawkins is Jamaica's only jumper on the squad, competing in the long jump and triple jump.

The men's Under-23 group is small in size but packed with quality. Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, the first Jamaican junior to run under 10 seconds, is entered for the 100m and 4x100m relay. He holds a personal best of 9.99 and has reached 10.13 this season.

Joseph Salmon will be closely watched in the men's discus as Jamaica's lone field athlete. The University of Nebraska commit's personal best of 67.55 metres is a national junior record, the current Under-20 world lead and the eighth-best throw in Under-20 discus history.

David Riley will serve as the team's technical leader. The NACAC Championships run from July 10 to 12 at the Una Nueva Historia Sports Complex Stadium in Mexico.