Taylor, Williams head World U-20 team
CALABAR HIGH’S Christopher Taylor and overseasbased Briana Williams will lead a 42-member team, 22 males and 20 females, to the IAAF World Under20 Championships, which will be held in Tampere, Finland, July 10-15.
Taylor, who won the senior 400m title at the recent National Championships in a national junior record and personal best 44.88 seconds, is the top junior on the world list in the event. Taylor is also the top athlete in the 200m.
Taylor was a semi-finalist in the one-lap event two years ago in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Williams, who was fifth among seniors in the women’s 100m at the National Championships, is ranked number five on the world list with 11.13.
Also on the boys’ team is overseas-based Damion Thomas. Thomas, who has just completed his first season for Louisiana State University, won the Under-20 110m hurdles in a World Junior record-equalling time of 12.99 seconds.
World Youth Under-18 110m hurdles champion, De’Jour Russell, who finished third at the championships, has been included in the team as a member of the 4x100m squad.
Two female medallists from the 2017 World Under-18 Championships, Britany Anderson who won gold in the 100m hurdles, and Sanique Walker, who won silver in the 400m hurdles, are also included.
SQUAD
Boys: Philip Barnett, Orlando Bennett, Michael Bentley, Anthony Carpenter, Shamar Chambers, Kai Chang, Shawkon Coke, Kimar Farqhuarson, Malik James King, Leanordo Ledgister, Jhevaughn Mattherson, Dashawn Morris, Xavier Nairne, Owayne Owens, Wayne Pinnock, Dejour Russell, Chantz Sawyers, Malik Smith, Michael Stephens, Christopher Taylor, Damion Thomas and Tyreke Wilson.
Girls: Britany Anderson, Amoi Brown, Lotavia Brown, Janique Burgher, Lamara Distin, Shaquena Foote, Susan Francis, Janielle Josephs, Chrissani May, Fredrick McKenzie, Ockera Myrie, Kemba Nelson, Ackera Nugent, Shian Salmon, Kimone Shaw, Ackelia Smith, Colisha Taylor, Sanique Walker, Briana Williams and Stacy Ann Williams.
Coaches: Jeremy Delisser, Michael Dyke, Marlon Gayle, Keilando Goburn, Neil Harrison, and Omar Hawes.