Some of the island’s top junior athletes are expected to be on show at GC Foster College in St Catherine for 2025 staging of the three-day Carifta Trial.

The meet was originally slated to be held at the National Stadium, but organisers have been forced to move it due to the resurfacing of the running track.

Starting this afternoon, the athletes will compete in the Under-17 and Under-20 events for both boys and girls as they vie for spots on Jamaica’s team for this year’s Carifta Games, which is to be held in Trinidad and Tobago April 19-23.

The meet is scheduled to get underway at 1:30 pm with the preliminary round of the girls’ Under-17 100 metres. A total of 12 finals will be contested on the opening day of competition — eight in the field and four on the track.

Ian Forbes, first vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), said he expects to see some great performances over the three days of competition.

“The JAAA is expecting some high-quality performances, fierce competition where the crème de la crème of our junior track and field will be in competition over the next three days,” Forbes said.

“With the abundance of talent and the increasing quality of performances and standards, it is expected that some extremely good performances will be on show over the three days. I am imploring everyone to come out; the venue is GC Foster College to witness these marquee events,” he said.

The athletes will also be using the meet as part of their preparations for next month’s highly-anticipated Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, which is to be held at the National Stadium March 25-29.

Wolmer’s Boys’ Gary Card, who has had an outstanding start to the season, along with Calabar’s Shaquane Gordon, Riquelme Reid of Excelsior High, Kingston College’s Nyrone Wade, and Khamane Gordon are all expected to battle for the boys’ Under-20 100m title. Muschett High’s Shanoya Douglas, Lacovia High’s Sabrina Dockery, Hydel High’s Shemonique Hazle, and St Jago High’s Bryana Davidson are to vie for the girls’ Under-20 100m title.

— Robert Bailey

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

Track events

2:00 pm — Under-17 Girls’ 100m Preliminary

2:15 pm — Under-17 Boys’ 100m Preliminary

2:45 pm — Under-20 Girls’ 100m Preliminary

3:00 pm — Under-20 Boys’ 100m Preliminary

3:30 pm — Under-17 Girls’ 400m Preliminary

3:45 pm — Under-17 Boys’ 400m Preliminary

4:00 pm — Under-20 Girls’ 400m Preliminary

4:15 pm — Under-20 Boys’ 400m Preliminary

4:30 pm — Under-17 Girls’ 1,500m Preliminary

4:45 pm — Under-17 Boys’ 1,500m Preliminary

5:00 pm — Under-20 Girls’ 1,500m Preliminary

5:15 pm — Under-17 Girls’ 100m Final

5:35 pm — Under-17 Boys’ 100m Final

5:45 pm — Under-20 Girls’ 100m Final

5:55 pm — Under-20 Boys’ 100m Final

Field events

1:30 pm — Under-17 Girls’ Shot Put Final

1:30 pm — Under-20 Girls’ Shot Put Final

2:00 pm — Under-20 Girls’ Long Jump Final

2:00 pm — Under-17 Boys’ High Jump Final

2:05 pm — Under-17 Boys’ Shot Put Final

3:15 pm — Under-20 Boys’ Shot Put Final

3:30 pm — Under-17 Boys’ High Jump Final

3:30 pm — Under-20 Boys’ Long Jump Final