Sport

Calvert, Ruddock head World Youth champs squad

Schillonie Calvert of Holmwood - file photo

Holmwood Technical's sprinter Schillonie Calvert and St. Jago's sprint hurdler Natasha Ruddock are Jamaica's medal favourites for this month's fourth IAAF World Youth Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.

The two, Calvert and Ruddock, named among the 24-member squad released by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) on Wednesday, are in bronze medal positions.

Calvert's best for 200m, 23.44, puts behind Americans Brittany Jones 23.13 and Sa'de Williams, 23.38.

On the other hand, Ruddock (13.72) trails three Australians Tara Holt (13.56), Jess Gulli and Charlotte Yates (13.60 each). Only two can enter.

O'Connor, the 2005 CARIFTA Games Austin Sealey award winner, heads the 12 boys, which include Kingston College's (K.C.'s) Class Two National Championships sprint double winner Cawayne Jervis.

At the last World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada, Jamaica, led by Usain Bolt and Anneisha McLaughlin, won four medals.

Bolt and McLaughlin won gold medals in the 200m for boys and girls respectively. Lotoya Greaves and the girls' medley team won silver medals.

The squad:

Boys: Cawayne Jervis, K.C. (100m, 200m, medley), Yohan Blake, St. Jago (100m, medley), Triston Taylor, Central (200m, medley), Teo Bennett, JC (400m, medley), Oshane Barham, K.C. (400m), Theon O'Connor, Campion (800m), Andre Thomas, Greater Portmore (800m), Kerion Stewart , K.C. (110mH), Andre Collins, J.C. (110mH), Romel Lewis, Holmwood (400mH), Julian Reid, Wolmer's (long jump) and Robert Peddlar, Wolmer's (triple jump).

Girls: Schillonie Calvert, Holmwood (100m, 200m, medley), Latoya King, St. Jago (100m, 200m medley), Kimberly Williams, Vere (triple jump), Kimona Smith, Morant Bay (triple jump), Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, Holmwood (400m, medley), Shakeeri Cole, Edwin Allen (400m, medley), Keno Heaven, Cambridge (800m), Vanessa Boyd, Holmwood (800m), Natasha Ruddock, St. Jago (100mH, medley), Shermaine Williams, Alpha (100mH), Andrea Sutherland, Edwin Allen (400mH) and Judith Riley, Manchester (400mH).

Trevor Campbell (manager), Alfred Francis, Patricia Thomas (assistant managers), Dr. Paul Wright, Gaynor Downer ­ physio (medical team), Raymond 'KC' Graham (head coach), Leacroft Bolt, Mark Prince, Michael Russell (coaches).