MICHAEL McIntosh, head coach of the Jamaican team to the XX Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Mexico next weekend, is confident the youngsters will acquit themselves well and will continue Jamaica’s rich tradition of excellence at this level.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) released a 56-member team on Wednesday that will compete in the three-day event to be held in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico July 4-6.

Hurdlers Yanique Thompson and Marvin Williams, gold medal winners at last year’s IAAF World Youth Championships, have been named in the team that will hope to at least match the 44 medals (20 gold, 15 silver and nine bronze) that they won while topping the tables two years ago in El Salvador.

The championships will be held in two age groups — Under-18 and Under-20.

McIntosh, the head coach at Green Island High, described the team as “well balanced”, and added that a number of the athletes are young enough to be eligible for the IAAF World Youth Championships next year and the World Juniors two years from now.

“Based on what we have seen all season and from the results of the (JAAA/Supreme Ventures) National Junior Trials, this team will do well,” McIntosh told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

He noted that a number of the top names were absent, including World Youth sprint hurdles champion Jaheel Hyde, high jumper Christoffe Bryan and sprinter Jevaughn Minzie, but said that given the upcoming IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, next month and after just completing exams, these athletes would need the opportunity “to getting some quality training to prepare for the World Juniors”.

Meanwhile, it is expected that a number of the athletes named for the CAC Juniors will also be included on the team for the World Juniors, while others will be hoping their performances next week will force the selectors to add them to the team travelling to Oregon next month.

Under-18 team: Girls — Kimone Shaw, Shanice Reid, Junelle Bromfield, Jeanine Williams, Vansha Pusey, Seagale Brown, Janeek Brown, Shannon Kalawan, Shanice Cohen, Shian Salmon, Trishauna Hemmings, Janeell Fullerton, Shanice Love.

Boys — Fabian Hewitt, Waseem Williams, Chad Walker, Aykeeme Francis, Terry Thomas, Shevan Parks, Rayon Butler, Jauvney James, Shane Buchanan, Roje Jackson-Chin, Orlando Smith, Lushane Wilson, Trevaughn Brown, Sanjae Lawrence, Warren Barrett, Vikarie Elliot.

Under-20 team: Girls — Sashalee Forbes, Saqukine Cameron, Yanique Thompson, Shimayra Williams, Monique McPherson, Lisa Buchanan, Krista-Gay Taylor, Safia Morgan, Annastacia Forrester, Shadae Lawrence, Isheka Binns, Kimone Green.

Boys — Raheem Robinson, Edward Clarke, Ivan Henry, Twayne Crooks, Rajay Hamilton, Kevon Robinson, Alex Hutton, Obrien Frith, Marvin Williams, Clayton Brown, Odaine Lewis, Demar Gayle, Alec-Verne Longmore, Orlando Thomas.