JAAA hosts ‘Pre-departure Meet’ for World U20, CAC Games athletes

ATHLETES competing at next week’s World Under-20 Championships and the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games will get a last chance to fine-tune their preparations at today’s JAAA Pre-Departure Meet at Stadium East, starting at 4:30 p.m.

The programme will include individual events, as well as relays, especially for the World Under-20 team, with the 4x100m, 4x100m mixed, 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relays all on the schedule. These events could play key roles in Jamaica’s medal prospects at the championships.

Several senior athletes are down to compete on the female side, including Ackera Nugent (100m/100m hurdles), Natasha Morrison (100m), Serena Cole (100m/200m) and Jura Levy (100m/200m).

The male contingent will be led by Adrian Kerr in the 200m, Sandrey Davison (100m/200m), Tyquendo Tracy (100m), Ramone Barnwell (100m), Nigel Ellis and Sachin Dennis (100m).

With Jamaica looking to defend both 4x100m relay titles at the World Under-20 Championships, both teams will be hoping to send strong messages ahead of the championships. The female team will be aiming to make it four consecutive titles and today’s squad will include Shanoya Douglas, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, Natrece East and Sashana Johnson.

For the males, the team will compete without top sprinter Gary Card, but the likes of Nathaniel Martin, Sanjay Seymore, Nyrone Wade and Dontae Watson will be hoping to post a fast time.