By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
Athletes participating in the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) camp take a break from training at G.C. Foster College last Sunday. - Anthony Foster photo
SEVERAL OF the island's leading junior athletes are now engaged in a weekend training camp at the G.C. Foster College for this year's World Junior Championships (WJC) and Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships (CAC).
Sessions start on Fridays and end on Sundays with time trials.
When The Gleaner visited the camp recently, a few of the 'big name' athletes were not present, but according to Alfred Francis, director of youth programmes at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), the number is expected to grow by the third and fourth week.
The main reason for the camp, he said, is to keep all the athletes in top shape for this year's meets, WJC and CAC. He also said they are spending a lot of time "working on disciplines (track and field), flexibilities and ways of getting the athletes ready for competition."
It is expected that Jamaica will take approximately 28 athletes to the 10th World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy while an additional 50 will be given tickets for the CAC in Mexico.
However, athletes hoping to represent Jamaica in Italy must secure qualifying standards and so far the 100m, 200m and 400m (male and female) athletes have secured qualifying marks.
Edwin Allen's middle distance runner Kayann Thompson is the only qualifier for the 800m while the female hurdlers, 100m and 400m along with the 400m male hurdlers have also qualified.
Nadina Marsh of St. Jago has qualified for the heptathlon. Only three field event athletes have qualified, triple jumpers Wilbert Walker and Carlos Mattis and long jumper Peta-Gaye Beckford who leapt 6.24m at Girls Champs to better the 6.15m mark required for her second World Junior.
Jamaica is expected to carry all athletes who have achieved the qualifying marks for their events as the island should get an IAAF grant to cover 19 persons.
The athletes at the training camp at GC Foster are hoping to sharpen their skills before the junior trials set for June 12-13 at the same venue.
MORE CORPORATE
SUPPORT NEEDED
Francis, who has managed several youth teams, said his association needs more corporate support.
"It costs a significant amount of money to run these camps," Francis said.
So far the camp is getting help from Dairy Industries, Pepsi, Joe Tex Bakery, Captain's Bakery, Tastee, Grace, Lascelles, Best Dressed Meats and Nestle.
"This helps a lot and go a far way," Francis said.
The camp is also benefiting from the expertise of coaches Lloyd Clarke (male sprints), Maurice Wilson (female sprints), Michael Dyke (middle distant), Patrick Johnson (jumps), Maurice Westney (throws), Mark Prince (throws), Kevin Price (hurdles), Michael Vassell (throws), Dwayne Jarrett (female sprints) and Edward Hector (400m). Olive Forrester, Juliet Parkes and Nicole Mais are also involved in making things run smoothly at the camp.
