TWO of Jamaica’s top junior athletes, IAAF World Youth Championships 200m gold medallist Michael O’Hara and high jump bronze medallist Christoff Bryan were surprise omissions from Jamaica’s 78-member team that was named yesterday to participate in the Carifta Games set for the Pierre Aliker Municipal Stadium, Fort de France, Martinique, from April 19-21.

Starting this year, each team is allowed a maximum of 80 athletes and it is expected that the winners of the decathlon and heptathlon at Champs will be added to complete the roster.

O’Hara, the Calabar High student, did not take part in the two-day Trials held at the National Stadium on March 8 and 9, while Bryan, the defending champion in the Under-20 high jump at Carifta, had failed to clear a height at Trials.

It is understood that O’Hara, who was named in last year’s team to the Bahamas but did not compete after he was diagnosed with chicken pox, had sought medical exemption from Trials and had submitted a medical certificate.

The nature of his injury had not been announced, but Dr Warren Blake, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) had told journalists the athlete had submitted a medical exemption and it would have been considered.

Bryan, who became the first Jamaican to win a medal in the high jump at the IAAF World Youth Championships and who had won the event at the Gibson Relays with 2.20m, had passed on the lower heights then failed to clear a height in the competition.

Meanwhile, five individual medallists from the World Youth Championships have been included on the team, including gold medallists Yanique Thompson, Jaheel Hyde, Martin Manley and Marvin Williams and 400m bronze medallist Tiffany James.

The full team is (Girls Under-18) — Collista Baker, Moisha Barnes, Junelle Bromfield, Janeek Brown, Devia Brown, Shellece Clarke, Shenice Cohen, Lamara Distin, Britnie Dixon, Taqece Duggun, Janel Fullerton, Shania Ingram, Tiffany James, Shannon Kalawan, Britny Kerr, Sidney Marshall, Shanice Reid, Kimone Shaw, Nattalliah Whyte, Shanice Wright.

Under-20 girls — Claudette Allen, Isheka Binns, Saquikine Cameron, Kedisha Dallas, Rochelle Frazer, Paul-Ann Gayle, Kimone Green, Camira Haughton, Andrenette Knight, Olivia Leckford, Dawnalee Loney, Yaniquie McNeil, Monique McPherson, Tamara Moncrieffe, Safia Morgan, Jonielle Smith, Yanique Thompson, Shanieke Watson, Sasha Gaye Whyte, Peta-Gay Williams.

Boys Under-18 — Nathaniel Bann, Warren Barrett, Akeem Bloomfield, Shane Buchanan, Ryan Butler, Raheem Chambers, Duran Crooks, Ryan Dunkley, Nigel Ellis, Jaheel Hyde, Roje Jackson-Chin, Jauvaney James, Martin Manley, Jhevaughn Matherson, Vashon McCarthy, Jordan Scott, Chad Walker, Obrien Wasome, Lushane Wilson.

Under-20 boys — Nathon Allen, Clayton Brown, Jordan Chin, Chadoye Dawson, Marco Doodnaughtsingh, Romario Fote, Jevaughn Fowler, Obrien Frith, Demar Gayle, Rajay Hamilton, Ivan Henry, Odaine Lewis, Tyler Mason, Jevaughn Minzie, Raheem Robinson, Kevon Robinson, Delano Rochester, Marvin Williams, Okeen Williams.

Neil Harrison of Munro College has been named head coach with Marlon Gayle, Christopher Harley, Andrew Kidd and Petrona McClymont his assistants.

Angella Chaplin is the Chef de Mission, Dennis May is the manager, Orville Brown, the assistant manager, Preci Hamilton is the team doctor, and Marlon Wilkie the masseur.