Junior athletes impress at national champs

Jamaica's junior athletes produced some exceptional performances at the JAAA/Puma National Junior and Senior Championships at the weekend.

Leading the way were Theianna-Lee Terrelonge , Shanoya Douglas, Skyler Franklin and Gary Card.

Edwin Allen High student Terrelonge easily retained her 100 metres title. In a dominant performance in the final of the under-20 100m, she blazed to a personal best of 11.13 seconds to defeat Douglas who was second in 11.28 with Sabrina Dockery third in 11.29.

Terrelonge who did not contest the 200m jumped to number three on the World Under-20 Top List behind countrywoman Alana Reid who leads with 11.09 and

Australia's Torrie Lewis with 11.10.

It has been a dream season so far for Douglas. She was in supreme form in the under-20 200m as she sped to a personal best 22.59 seconds to win ahead of Franklin (23.16) and Dockery (23.24). Douglas is now number two on the World under-20 Top list, behind leader Ja Meesia Ford of the United States with 22.08.

United States-born Franklin, who recently switched allegiance to Jamaica, blew away her rivals in the 400m. In a commanding performance she rushed to a winning time of 51.99 seconds. Abigail Campbell was second in 53.42 with Shanique Williams third in 53.92.

Franklin, who will celebrate her 17th birthday later this month, has a season's and personal best of 51.66 and is ranked number seven on the World Under-20 Top List. Ford leads with a best of 50.33.

Gary Card, 17, was the standout performer among the boys after producing personal best times in the 100m and 200m.

He won the 100m in an impressive best of 10.07. Deandre Daley was second in 10.16, with Kingston College's Nyron Wade third in 10.36.

Lining up with the men in the senior 200m Card finished fifth in 20.50.

Both times produced by Card put him in the top seven on the World Under-20 Top List in both events. In the 100m he is at number three, behind leader Christian Miller of the United States with 9.93 and Jinxian He of China with 10.07.

Card is ranked fifth in the 200m behind the Nyckoles Harbor of the United States with 20.20s.

With likes of Kerrica Hall and Habbiba Harris in the 100m hurdles and Jaydon Hibbert in both the long and triple jumps, it looks very positive for Jamaica ahead of the World Under-20 Championships in Peru, August 27-30.

Two years ago, Jamaica earned most medals (16) at the championships, pocketing six gold, seven silver and three bronze. The United States ended with 15, seven gold, four silver and four bronze. Their seven gold medals to Jamaica's six placed them at the top of the standings.