Standout high school athletes Kai Chang, Oblique Seville, and Wayne Pinnock have been named in the 30-member NACAC Under-23 squad announced by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) for the championships to be held in Quarertaro, Mexico July 5-7.
The trio were expected to be named on the team to the Pan American Under-20 Championships, but were instead named to the older age group.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Briana Williams, who ran a national Junior record 10.94 seconds for third place in the Senior women’s 100m at the JAAA Supreme Ventures National Championships, the fastest ever by an under-18 athlete, has been named as part of the 25-member Under-18 contingent that will compete in their own championships alongside the Under-23s.
The JAAA released teams to three championships on Wednesday evening, but it’s the only one the US-based Williams has been named to despite her coach Ato Boldon saying last week she would make herself available for the Pan Am Under-20 and possibly the senior Pan Am Games teams.
Chang and Pinnock were medallists at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Finland last year, while Seville established himself as one of the top high school sprinters in the world this year, running 10.13 seconds to win at the ISSA Champs and also again last weekend.
Jauavney James, who defended his senior men’s 800m title, Raheem Chambers, and Waseem Williams, who both had good seasons in the NCAA Division 1, and discus thrower Roje Stona were also named in the men’s team.
NCAA 800m champion Jazmine Fray, Under-20 sprint double champion Kemba Nelson, World Under-20 silver medallist Shiann Salmon and standout discus throwers Shanice Love and Gabrielle Bailey were included in the women’s Under-23 selection.
–Paul Reid
Jamaica Observer
