MARYLAND, United States — Hydel High’s track and field starlet Alliah Baker, and Muschett High’s Shanayo Douglas are to lead the contingent of Jamaican athletes participating in today’s third staging of the East Coast International Showcase championships at Prince George Sports and Learning Complex.

The championships, set to feature over 1,200 competing athletes, includes 120 Jamaican junior athletes competing along with their American counterparts. The event is scheduled to start at 9:00 am (8:00 am Jamaica time).

Baker, who has been having an outstanding season, is scheduled to compete in the 100m event.

“I am just going out there to do my best and follow my coach’s instructions,” said Baker. “I have prepared well for this meet so now it’s just for me to go out there and, hopefully, run a very fast time on Saturday.”

Baker secured four gold medals at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships in March, including the Girls’ Class One sprint double and gold in the 4x100m and 4×400 relay events.

The 16-year-old Douglas, the reigning Carifta Under-17 200m champion, is set to compete in the 200m and 400m events. Douglas expressed her readiness for the East Coast International Showcase.

“I have been preparing well for the meet because I heard that the competition is going to be very tough, as everyone is coming out there hard to win, so I am ready for it on Saturday,” she said. “I am going out there to do my best because I have been preparing mentally and physically for it, knowing that many will be looking forward to me doing well out there. I have been running well all season — from Champs to Carifta Games — so I want to continue at this meet and make my coach, school, and family proud.”

Sanjay Ayre, chief organiser of the meet, said all is set for a successful staging.

“All the plans are in place and the kids are ready to go. We had a fantastic week of training camp, and the athletes I spoke to said they are feeling really good and are ready and raring to go,” said Ayre.

“All the officials are in place, because we have a technical meet at the stadium [on Friday] to go over the timing system and scoreboard checks. So, from a technical standpoint, the meet is ready to go,” he concluded.

Some of the Jamaican schools listed to compete at the meet include Hydel, St Jago (both boys’ and girls’ teams), Excelsior High boys, Jamaica College, Wolmer’s High School for Girls, Muschett High, and St Elizabeth Technical.