Ramone McKenzie celebrates with his mother after winning the 400m at the High School Boys & Girls Championships in March (© Anthony Foster)
Two gold medals contenders, Ramone McKenzie and Dexter Lee, both sprinters, head Jamaica's team for the 5th IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
McKenzie, who ran 20.58 to win the Under-20 boys' event at April's Carifta Games, topped the boys' field at the Jamaican Championships on Sunday with a 20.63 win.
Lee, on the other hand, improved on his 10.34, which gave him the Under-17 100m title at Carifta with a 10.33 seconds run at National Championships last Saturday.
The 16-year-old Lee is now looking forward to the World Youth with a big personal best as his target.
"I am going there to try and run 10.2," Lee said.
Nickel Ashmeade, who finished second behind Lee in 10.39, along with Shana Gay Tracey and quarter miler Latoya McDermott are also included in the team for the July 11-15 Championships.
The team of eight girls and eleven boys will depart the island on Monday ahead of a one week training camp in Ostrava.
They will return on 17 July.
Jamaica’s Team
Girls: Shavine Hodges (400m), Latoya McDermott (400m), Shauna-Gaye Tracey (400m Hurdles), Natoya Goule (800m), Jura Levy (100m, 200m), Shermaine Williams (100m Hurdles), Misha-Gaye Dacosta (High Jump) and Gayon Evans (100m, 200m).
Boys: Hansle Parchment (110m Hurdles), Donohue Williams (800m), Rolando Berch (400m), Ramone Mckenzie (200m), Nickel Ashmeade (100m, 200m), Kimarki Absalom (High Jump), Jonathan Reid (High Jump), Dwayne Extol (400m, 400m Hurdles), Gregory Morgan (Tiple Jump), Tarik Batchelor (Long Jump) and Lee Dexter (100m).
Coaches: Michael Russell, Kevin Pryce and Michael Carr.
Trevor Campbell is the manager while Phyllis Williams is his assistant. The doctor is Howard Richards.
Anthont Foster for the IAAF
