( L - R ) Michael O'Hara, Martin Manley

The Jamaican male 4X400m relay team will have to find something close to their best form if they are to challenge for a medal at the World Junior Championships.

Despite doing well in the sprints over the years at the event, it has been tough going for the males in the relays where the country has tasted the pinnacle of success only once when they captured the gold medal in 2000 in Santiago, Chile, after posting 3:06.06. Two years later on home soil they got a silver medal after finishing second behind the United States in 3:04.06, a time which is still the existing national junior record.

fifth place

Since then the country has failed to get among the medals. In 2004 they actually failed to make it to the final. In 2006 the team finished sixth, in 2008 and 2010 it was fourth-place finish for Jamaica, while at the last Championships in Barcelona, Spain, two years ago, the team could only managed a fifth-place finish.

This Saturday when the team competes in the preliminary round of the event, they will be hoping to advance to the final the following day, and in the process get among the medals once again. However, it will not be an easy task for the Jamaicans. Going into the Championships as the third-ranked nation, with a best of 3:07.71, the team definitely will have to go close to the national record if they hope to be among the medals.

top-ranked team

Neighbours Trinidad and Tobago are the top-ranked team, with 3:06.02, ahead of Nigeria with a time of 3:06.21. The United states are the 10th-ranked team going into the Championships with a time of 3:12.12 but the host United States have dominated the event at the Championships. The US will start overwhelming favourites to do so once again, while Germany, with a season best 3:07.74, cannot be ruled out of the medals.

On paper, however Jamaica have a very solid squad, which includes the St Jago High trio of Ivan Henry, Martin Manley and Nathon Allen, along with intermediate hurdlers Jaheel Hyde, Okeem Williams and Twayne Crooks. The coaching staff also has the likes of Michael O'Hara and Jevaughn Minzie to choose from.