( L - R ) Jahzeel Murphy, Odean Skeen

THE country's leading junior athletes will be seeking places on the country's national team for next month's Carifta Games, as the two-day trials will get under way at the Stadium East tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Athletes will be competing in the Under-17 and Under-20 age groups, as they seek to be part of the local team, with the meet set for Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, April 23-25.

There were doubts surrounding the staging of this year's meet, due to the unavailability of a venue, before Jamaica stepped in to host the event. Tomorrow's opening day will see some 30 finals taking place, with 15 on the track and another 15 on the field. The first track final, the girls' Under-20 3000 metres, will run off at 2 p.m., with the first field event final, the girls' Under-20 long jump, getting under way at 11 a.m.

With the trials being held so close to this month-end ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships, high-quality performances are expected, as athletes are at peak stage in their preparation.

One of the highlights tomorrow will definitely be the boys' Under-20 100 metres, which is scheduled to get under way at 2:45 p.m. A quality field is expected to line up as the country's most promising sprinters, led by Bridgeport High's Jahzeel Murphy, is expected to lead the charge.

Murphy, who has returned in fine style this season after missing most of last year's competition due to a hamstring injury, has looked awesome since his return.

In a mouth-watering clash, he will be challenged by the twin attack from Wolmer's Boys Odean Skeen and Julian Forte, along with former Old Harbour High sprinter Kemar Bailey Cole, who has shown great improvement since joining Racers Track Club.

girls' Under-20 event

In the girls' Under-20 event, local fans will get another chance to see Edwin Allen High outstanding sprinter Christiana Williams. Williams, who will not be eligible to compete at Champs, has been blazing the track all season. At last Saturday's Gibson Relays she exercised that form, when she forced the outstanding Carrie Russell to call on her experience, as she finished a close second in a personal best 11.49 seconds. Vere Technical's Deandra Whitehorne, if fit, and Herbert Morrison Technical's Sedaith Palmer are expected to give a good account of themselves.

Manchester High outstanding long jumper Chanice Porter will battle Camperdown High School's Nickeava Wilson in the girls' Under-20 long jump in the first field event final.

Calabar outstanding thrower, Traves Smikle, will also be in action tomorrow, as the World Junior finalist in the discus will compete in his pet event, the boys' Under-20 discus final, at 3 p.m.