CARIFTA Games gold medallists Akela Jones and Sadé-Mariah Greenidge lead a field of 14 Barbadian athletes who have qualified for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships in El Salvador at the end of June.
And in the wake of comments from head coach Alwyn Babb that the team needed to be kept together, there are plans to provide more specialized training ahead of the June 29 to July 1 meet.
Esther Maynard, president of the Amateur Athletic Association, said preliminary discussions were held with coaches to provide training for athletes.
The aim was not to separate the athletes from their personal coaches, because according to Maynard, the coach would not develop either.
She said the response had been favourable.
Meanwhile, Jones is the only athlete to qualify for two events in the Junior Championships.
The Under-20 girls’ long jump gold medallist and silver medallist in the high jump has met the standard in both of those events, with season’s bests of 6.28 and 1.80 metres, respectively, but will be competing in the Under-18 division.
The other field competitors in the Under-18 division are javelin silver medallist Nicoliai Bovelle (66.44m) and bronze medallist Janeil Craigg (66.02m).
On the track, there is Levi Cadogan, with 21.53 in the 200 metres; Shakera Hall, with 13.89 in the 100 metres hurdles; Tia-Adana Belle, with 55.5 seconds in the 400 metres and half-milers John Haynes (1:52.75) and Jerrad Mason (1:53.83).
In the CAC Under-20 division, Greenidge opened the season with 13.48 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles in the United States. She went on to win gold at CARIFTA in 13.61 seconds and also did the qualifying time of 13.72 last weekend at the Penn Relays.
Half-miler Anthonio Mascoll wasn’t at the CARIFTA Games, but he has lowered the junior national record in the 800m twice this year and has a best time of 1:48.36.
Rounding out the field in the Under-20 division are hurdlers Raphael Jordan, with 14.18 seconds over 110 metres, and 400m hurdles bronze medallist Tramaine Maloney and Kion Joseph, with best times of 52.12 and 52.03 seconds, respectively. Tristan Whitehall is the lone field competitor with 16.28 metes in the shot put.
Others like middle distance runner Sonia Gaskin and sprinter Mario Burke are also close to the qualifying standards.
