Reid, Card headline Ja’s charge at World U20 Champs

by

Raymond Graham - STAR Writer

August 27, 2024

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Alana Reid

Gary Card

Sprinters Alana Reid and Gary Card will headline Jamaica's charge on today's opening day of the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

The country's young athletes will be hoping to maintain Jamaica's strong showing at these championships, where the country had its best ever performance in mining 16 medals in 2022.

In the preliminary rounds of the 100 metres, four athletes will face the starter, as they bid to book spots in the semifinals, which will be run in the afternoon session.

Alana Reid, with a best of 11.08 seconds and Thieanna Lee Terrelonge (11.13), are ranked first and third, respectively.

Gary Card, ranked third with 10.07, and Deandre Daley, who is ranked ninth with 10.16, will face the starter in the men's event.

All told, 10 Jamaicans, five in the field and five on the track, will be in action in individual events on today's opening day.

Female long jumper Rohanna Sudlow will be the first Jamaican in action. Sudlow will contest Group B of the long jump at 9:15 a.m. (Jamaica time). She has a season's best of 6.40 metres and will be hoping to be among the top 12 to advance to tomorrow's final.

Other athletes who will be involved in field events action in the first session are Shaiquan Dunn in the men's shot put at 11 a.m., Najhada Seymoure and Shamoyea Morris in the women's discus at 11:45 a.m. and Chavez Penn in the men's triple jump preliminary round at 12:15 p.m.

Following their bronze medal two years ago after their third-place finish, the Jamaicans will be involved in the preliminary round of the mixed 4x400m relays at 9:30 a.m.

Kitania Headley is down for the women's 800m heats which start at 12.55 p.m.. Headley has a best of 2:08.98 for the two-lap event.

BEST WISHES

Minister of Sport Olivia Grange has sent best wishes to the members of the team ahead of the start of competition.

Grange encouraged the young athletes to "enjoy the experience of representing Jamaica on the world stage. The minister said the country was "already very proud of the athletes" for qualifying for the World Under-20 Championships and added that she was "confident that they will do their best".