KINGSTON, Jamaica — Christopher Taylor and Chrissani May were appointed boys and girls captains respectively of the Jamaica team that will defend their titles in the 47th Flow CARIFTA Games set to start today at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.

Taylor won the Under 20 boys 400m last year but will run the 200m this weekend while May is the defending champion in the Under 20 girls 800m.

The opening ceremony of the championships will be held today with competition set to get underway tomorrow morning as the Jamaicans seek to match or beat the 86 medals won at last year’s event held in Curacao, including 39 gold, 28 silver and 19 bronze.

Meanwhile Ockera Myrie and Ray-donna Lee will replace Kevona Davis who was pulled from the team prior to their departure on Thursday due to what was described as precaution because of sore hamstrings.

Myrie will contest the Under 20 girls 100m and Lee the 200m. Additionally Antonio Watson will contest the boys Under 20 400m instead of Anthony Carpenter while Janielle Joseph will take the place of Shiann Salmon in the Under 20 girls 400m.

Both Carpenter and Salmon are in the Bahamas.

Sixteen finals including the 100m events, the Under 20 boys’ discus throw and long jump, Under 20 girls’ shot put, the Under 17 girl high jump and the Under 17 boys’ triple jump will all be decided.

The Heptathlon for the girls’ and Octathlon for the boys’ will also start on Saturday’s first day.

Paul Reid