World Youth Championships 400m gold medallist Christopher Taylor has been left off an initial 73-member team named by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to represent the country at the 45th Carifta Games to be held at Queens Park, St Georges, Grenada, March 26-28.

Taylor won two gold medals at the Carifta Games in St Kitts/Nevis last year, setting a championship record 46.64 seconds in the Under-18 400m and anchoring the Under-18 4x400m relays.

Calabar High School had tendered a medical certificate on his behalf at the Carifta Trials held two weeks ago, indicating his intention to be part of the team but he was left off by the selection committee.

In a release with the named athletes sent out by the JAAA on Monday, an additional five athletes including representatives in the multi-events, the girls’ heptathlon and boys’ octathlon will be named following the ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships that started yesterday and will run through to Saturday. It is likely that Taylor, who looked in fine fettle during the first round heats at Champs yesterday, will be included on the team.

The JAAA, meanwhile, has named a powerful team that includes several former champions in the hope of surpassing last year’s 86 medal count of 42 gold medals, 25 silver medals and 19 bronze medals.

St Elizabeth Technical High School’s Nigel Ellis, who has led the way in the 100m and 200m sprints so far this year, has been included along with St Jago’s Raheem Chambers, and they will seek to restore Jamaica’s dominance in the men’s sprints after failing to win any of the boys’ sprint gold medals last year.

O’Brien Wasome had to settle for two silver medals in the Under-20 boys long and triple jumps last year and will be hoping for his first gold since 2014 when he won the Under-18 long jump.

After winning back-to-back Under-18 gold medals in the high jump Lushane Wilson, a World Youth and Commonwealth Youth Games finalist, will have his eyes set on the Under-20 gold medal.

Junelle Bromfield, who won the 400m/400m hurdles double in the Under-18 category last year, will step up to the Under-20 this year where she is expected to continue her success.

Vere Technical’s high jumper Lamara Distin, who won the Under-18 gold medal two years ago, will be in her third season in the junior section and is expected to win another medal after failing to medal last year.

Distin is expected to battle defending champions Shiann Salmon of Hydel for the gold in Grenada.

Kimone Shaw will hope to improve her bronze medal in the Under-18 100m to gold this year and will contend with teammate Michae Harriott.

In the throws, Warren Barrett Jnr, who has had an outstanding season in the shot put, Commonwealth Youth gold medallist Kevin Nedrick and Sanjae Lawrence will lead the way in the boys’ section, while Shanice Love and Jenelle Fullerton will lead the way for the girls.

Girls’ Under-18 — Annakay Allen, Britany Anderson, Annia Ashley, Joda Campbell, Lamara Distin, Britnie Dixon, Cemore Donald, Shaniel English, Daszay Freeman, Michae Harriott, Aiko Jones, Chrisanni May, Myesha Nott, Shiann Salmon, Kimone Shaw, Sanique Walker, Stacey-Ann Williams.

Girls’ Under-20 — Junelle Bromfield, Devia Brown, Rushelle Burton, Nicolee Foster, Janell Fullerton, Monifa Green, Semoy Hemmings, Tissanna Hickling, Kimone Hines, Tiffany James, Shannon Kalawan, Britny Kerr, Shanice Love, Sidney Marshall, Patrice Moody, Jessicca Noble, Shanice Reid, Asshanni Robb, Sahjay Stevens.

Boys’ Under-18 — Phillipe Barnett, Zico Campbell, Shakwon Coke, Jon-Marc Davis, Rasheeda Downer, Dashinelle Dyer, Nicholas Elliot, Keenon Lawrence, Leonardo Ledgister, Jhevaughn Matherson, Joel Morgan, Dashawn Morris, Kobe-Jordan Rhooms, Dejour Russell, Michael Stephens, Roje Stona, Damion Thomas, Javantaye Williams.

Boys’ Under-20 — Sean Bailey, Timor Barrett, Warren Barrett Jnr, Akeem Bloomfield, Nathan Brown, Raheem Chambers, Rohan Cole, Kristof Darby, Romario Douglas, Nigel Ellis, Garfield Gordon, Jauavney James, Sanjae Lawrence, Andel Miller, Kevin Nedrick, Shevon Parkes, Jordan Scott, O’Brien Wasome, Lushane Wilson.