Young stars to shine at World Junior Champs

MONCTON, New Brunswick (CMC):

Several rising Caribbean stars are expected to come of age at the World Junior Championships (WJC), which opens today.

As always, the Jamaicans will be expected to lead the English-speaking Caribbean charge at the Champion-ships, but this time, they are a few others that could turn the spotlight on themselves and their nations.

Defending WJC 100 metres champion Dexter Lee of Jamaica returns with a huge reputation, but his path to a gold medal will not be easy.

Waiting in the wings to put a damper on Jamaica's new-found reputation of being the sprint capital of the world is the fast-rising Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut.

He and Lee both enter the Championships with a season's best time of 10.16 seconds while South Korea's Gook-Young Kim, and Americans Charles Silmon and Michael Granger are not too far behind.

On the girls' side, the strong contenders look a little thin, but Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands looks a good bet for the 400m, with the second fastest time of the year of 52.35, and could also come into the picture in the long jump.

They will all have to run to beat Nigeria's Etim however, since her personal best is more than one second faster that Malone's.

Favourites

Kirani James of Grenada, and Trinidad & Tobago's Jehue Gordon look like favourites for the flat 400 metres, and the 400 hurdles respectively, on the boys' side.

James is now enrolled at the University of Alabama in the United States, and captured this year's NCAA Division-1 title with a lifetime best of 45.01 seconds.

He followed up his WJC silver medal two years ago, with a World Youth Championship gold medal over American Josh Mance, one of his opponents at this meet.

Errol Nolan, another American, had a super freshman year, and clocked 45.59 to rank No.2 in the world behind James. It also gained him the USA track and field's junior title over Mance.

But they will also have to watch South Korea's World No.3 Bong-go Park, whose personal best is 45.63.

Gordon is the raging hot favourite in the 400 hurdles, and the man identified to break the American dominance in the event.

Fourth place

The 18-year-old has already made a name for himself on the international senior circuit, having taken fourth place in the World Championships last year in Berlin.

He has constantly clocked sub-49 seconds, and once remains fit and focussed, he will be hard to beat.

In the long jump, Malone has leapt close to 6.50 metres this year, and if she could sustain this form, she should be in the top echelons.

The athletes should find Moncton quite intriguing. It's the fastest growing metropolitan area in Atlantic Canada, and one of the fastest growing areas in Canada.

It's described as a city on the rise, where a visitor will find attractions, fine dining, world-class music, and a rich heritage that seeps onto the streets, and fills the heart.