The hunt for places to represent Jamaica at next month’s 39th Carifta Junior Games in the Cayman Islands starts today with a two-day trial inside the National Stadium in Kingston.

According to chairman of the organising committee Alfred Francis, approximately 700 of the nation’s top juniors are registered to compete for the 70 available spots on the team.

“There is great enthusiasm where track and field is concerned and we have been having an excellent season with our development meets and the confidence is there that these athletes can represent Jamaica at the highest level, so they’re vying for it,” Francis told Sporting World.

The Carifta Games is scheduled to be staged on the Easter Weekend of April 2 to 5.

“This weekend we will see our throwers (Travis Smikle and Chad Wright) vying to develop the non traditional events and excel at it… we’ll also see the likes of Jazeel Murphy, who’s a double winner from Carifta last year in the Under-17 category trying to excel,” Francis added.

Last year Jamaica secured the 25th straight hold on the Carifta title my amassing 67 medals to top the standings — 39 gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze.

“The athletes will also be casting their focus on the Youth Olympics because this meet in Cayman is also a qualifier for the Youth Olympics and later in the year we’ll have the World Junior Championships,” Francis said.

The Youth Olympics is scheduled for August 14 to 26 in Singapore, while the World Junior Championships will take place in Moncton, Canada from July 20 to 25.

“So the youth have a lot to look forward to this year and we expect exciting rivalry and also they will be looking for the psychological edge on their opponents going into Boys’ and Girls’ Championships in two weeks time,” Francis added.

Day 1 – Saturday, March 6, 2010

Time Track Events Category

11:00 am 300m Hurdles Girls Under 17 Heats

11:10 am 400m Hurdles Girls Under 20 Heats

11:20 am 400m Hurdles Boys Under 17 Heats

11:30 am 400m Hurdles Boys Under 20 Heats

11:40 am 800m Girls Under 17 Heats

11:50 am 800m Boys Under 17 Heats

12:00 noon 800m Girls Under 20 Heats

12:10 pm 800m Boys Under 20 Heats

12:25 pm 100m Girls Under 17 Heats

12:35 pm 100m Boys Under 17 Heats

12:45 pm 100m Girls Under 20 Heats

12:55 pm 100m Boys Under 20 Heats

1:15 pm 400m Girls Under 17 Heats

1:25 pm 400m Boys Under 17 Heats

1:35 pm 400m Girls Under 20 Heats

1:45 pm 400m Boys Under 20 Heats

2:00 pm 3000m Girls Under 20 Finals

2:15 pm 3000m Boys Under 17 Finals

2:30 pm 100m Girls Under 17 Finals

2:35 pm 100m Boys Under 17 Finals

2:40 pm 100m Girls Under 20 Finals

2:45 pm 100m Boys Under 20 Finals

2:50 pm 5000 Boys Under 20 Finals

3:15 pm 300m Hurdles Girls Under 17 Finals

3:25 pm 400m Hurdles Girls Under 20 Finals

4:35 pm 400m Hurdles Boys Under 17 Finals

4:45 pm 400m Hurdles Boys Under 20 Finals

4:55 pm 800m Girls Under 17 Finals

5:00 pm 800m Boys Under 17 Finals

5:05 pm 800m Girls Under 20 Finals

5:10 pm 800m Boys Under 20 Finals

Time Field Events Category

11:00 am Long Jump Boys Under 20 Final

12:01 pm High Jump Girls Under 17 Final

12:02 pm Javelin Girls Under 17 Final

12:03 pm Javelin Girls Under 20 Final

12:04 pm Shot Put Boys Under 17 Final

1:30 pm Long Jump Girls Under 17 Final

1:31 pm High Jump Boys Under 17 Final

1:32 pm Javelin Boys Under 17 Final

1:33 pm Javelin Boys Under 20 Final

1:34 pm Discus Girls Under 17 Final

2:46 pm Triple Jump Girls Under 17 Final

2:47 pm Triple Jump Girls Under 20 Final

2:48 pm Discus Boys Under 20 Final

4:00 pm Discus Girls Under 20 Final

4:01 pm Long Jump Girls Under 20 Final