Tiffany James ... 400m, (R)Devaughn Baker

DONETSK, Ukraine:

Demar Gayle and Paula-Ann Gayle share the same surname and the same school and even a coach and while the two aren't related, they will tomorrow share the common goal of hunting spots in the finals of their respective events at the IAAF World Youth Championships (WYC) here.

The Edwin Allen pair, who are joined here by assistant team coach Marlon Gayle - also from the Frankfield, Clarendon - based school, will join 15 other Jamaicans in action on the championships' opening day inside the RSC Olimpiysky.

Demar won last year's Class Two shot put title before making the final in his first year in Class One at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championship, but will need to throw considerably better than his 18.32m personal best if he is to be a factor in the event here.

championship opener

Paula-Ann faces a similarly challenging task in the girls' discus with her best of 47.13m falling outside the top 15 marks recorded this year.

The boys' shot put and the girls' discus along with the girls' 3000m are the only finals set for tomorrow's championship opener.

Joint top youth quarter-miler Devaughn Baker and number six-ranked Martin Manley are, however, both expected to challenge for medals here and should qualify comfortably from the 400m heats.

Baker, who shares the fastest time this year - 46.64, with USA's Chris Platt, says that he has been responding well in training and that he will be going all out to bring home the gold medal.

"I am pleased with my season and I have really been training well, so I am going out there to try and get the gold medal," said Baker.

Top sprinter Michael O'Hara will start his quest for a sprint double with the running of the boys' 100m heats.

footsteps

O'Hara is already one of the most discussed athletes at these championships with the world number two ranked in the 100m coming into Donetsk with a time of 10.39.

Waseem Williams is also set to face the starter in the 100m heats as the pair look to follow in the footsteps of Dexter Lee (2007) and Odail Todd (2011) in becoming World Youth 100m champion.

Veronica Campbell-Brown is the only Jamaican to win a girls' 100m World Youth title after her exploits in 1999. This is something that Saqukine Cameron and Joneille Smith will be looking to address, starting with tomorrow's girls' 100m heats.

Yanique Thompson has three of the four fastest times recorded in the 100m hurdles this year, with her best of 13.23 coming just a few weeks ago at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures Limited National Junior Championships at the National Stadium.

The youngster will be joined by the Carifta Under-17 champion Rushelle Burton, whose 13.43 makes her the fourth fastest youth so far this year, for what is a very strong hurdling unit for the Jamaicans.

Yanique McNeil is expected to end up on the podium for the girls 400m but she will have to safely navigate the heats first with the number two ranked, 53.17 athlete expected to be joined by Tiffany James, who despite not being her dominant self in 2013, is as confident as ever and is also looking likely to challenge for top spot.

"It's my first World Championships but I am looking forward to it, I am always confident in myself, so I am also looking forward to going there and doing well," said James, who has seen only three young ladies go faster than her all season.

Number three ranked Daeshon Gordon and number nine ranked Andrenette Knight will be looking to make an impact in the 400m hurdles heats, while Tamara Moncrieffe will get started in girls triple jump qualifying.

Jamaican schedule (Wednesday, July 10)

Girls' 100m hurdles Heats (1:30 a.m.)

Rushelle Burton

Yanique Thompson

Girls' Discus Qualifiers (1:35 a.m. and 2:50 a.m.)

Paula-Ann Gayle

Boys' Shot Put Qualifiers (2:05a.m.)

Demar Gayle

Girls' 400m Heats (3:50 a.m.)

Yanique McNeil

Tiffany James

Boys' 100m Heats (4:45 a.m.)

Michael O'Hara

Wassem Williams

Girls' 400m hurdles (9:00 a.m.)

Andrenette Knight

Boys' 400m hurdles (9:35 a.m.)

Marvin Williams

Okeen Williams

Girls' Triple Jump Qualifiers (10:10 a.m.)

Tamara Moncrieffe

Girls' 100m Heats (10:15 a.m.)

Jonielle Smith

Saqukine Cameron

Boys' Shot Put FINAL (11:05 a.m.)

Girls' Discus FINAL (11:55 a.m.)