Anneisha McLaughlin of Jamaica wins the 200m final (© Getty Images)
Jamaican sprinters will be the ones to carry the country’s hopes at next month's World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy.
Needless to say, all eyes will be set on the reigning World Youth and Junior champion whose 19.93 World record earlier this summer proved just how talented the young man from Trelawny is.
But Bolt will be far from being the only Jamaican aiming at gold in Grosseto as Simone Facey, Aneisha McLaughlin and Latoya Greaves all have the credentials to travel to Italy as favourites.
100m Silver medallist in Kingston 2002, Facey dramatically improved her personal best to 11.22 and in addition to starting as a hot favourite in the shorter sprints she should also be in contention in the 200m.
McLaughin will be the other Jamaican to line-up in the 200m and given her World Championships experience one can count on her to be right in the mix for top honours. Aged 16, McLaughin won the 200m silver medal in front of her home crowd two years ago. Last year in Sherbrooke World Youth Champs, she won gold at 200m and bronze at 400m.
A bronze medallist in Sherbrooke’s 100m Hurdles, Greaves will also carry Jamaican hopes in Grosseto.
Leading Jamaican Junior athletes
Usain Bolt
Born: Trelawny ,Jamaica WI
21st August 1986
Event 200m PB 19.93 WJR
Progression
2001 21.81
2002 20.58
2003 20.13
2004 19.93 year to date WJR
World Junior 2002…….Gold 200m
World Youth 2003……..Gold 200m
World Youth Best 15 year old 20.58
World Youth Best 16 year old 20.13
World Junior Record 19.93
Simone Facey
Born: Manchester , Jamaica W1
7th May 1985
Events 100m PB 11.22 200m PB 22.71
Progression
2001 11.59 / 23.67
2002 11.43 / 23.22
2003 11.69
2004 11.22 / 22.71
World Junior 2002……Silver 100m
Aneisha McLaughlin
Born: Manchester ,Jamaica WI
6th January 1986
Events 200m PB 22.94 400m PB 52.31
Progression
2000 24.33 / 53.54
2001 23.11 / 52.31
2002 22.94 / 53.04
2003 23.19 / 52.57
2004 23.48 / 52.80
World Junior 2002…..Silver 200m
World Youth 2001…..Bronze 400m
World Youth 2003…..Gold 200m
Latoya Greaves
Born: Kingston ,Jamaica WI
31st May 1986
Event 100m hurdles PB13.59
World Youth 2003….Bronze 100m hurdles
Other leading athletes
Women
400m
52.41 Sonita Sutherland D.O.B. 09.08.87
800m
2:03.75 Kayann Thompson D.O.B. 30.01.85
100m hurdles
13.61 Keisha Brown D.O.B. 17.03.85
13.63 Nadina Marsh D.O.B. 26.01.85
400m hurdles
58.03 Sherene Pinnock D.O.B. 30.03.87
58.04
Long Jump
6.23 Petagaye Beckford D.O.B. 17.04.85
Men
Long Jump
7.60 Wilbert Walker D.O.B. 07.01.85
Yolanda Davies (JAAA) for the IAAF
