RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR writer

Calabar High's Christopher Taylor and Kingston College's (KC) Akeem Bloomfield, who were outstanding at last weekend's Carifta Trials, lead a 78-member squad selected for the 44th staging of the Carifta Games to be held in Basseterre, St Kitts, between April 3-6.

Two more athletes will be added to the squad following the Boys' and Girls' Championships as the winner of the Girls' Heptathlon and Boys' Decathlon will be included.

Taylor, who clocked an amazing 45.69 seconds to win the Boys' Under-18 400m to become the fastest athlete ever in his age group, has been included in a 18-member squad in his category.

The group includes defending 1500m and 3000m champion, Javauney James of St Elizabeth Technical.

Defending high jump champion, Lushane Wilson of St Jago, who did a personal best of 2.15m to win at trials, is also included, as is last year's silver medallist in the 200m, Jhevaughn Matherson of KC.

Matherson did not compete at trials, but got a a medical exemption and will have to prove his fitness at the upcoming Boys' and Girls' Championships.

The lanky Bloomfield, who had an impressive personal best 45.31 seconds to take the Boys' Under-20 400m, will make his first national appearance and is in a very strong 21-man squad in his age group.

That group includes Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer's, Calabar's Michael O'Hara, Chad Walker of St Jago, Clayton Brown of Jamaica College, and overseas-based Christoff Bryan.

Hyde was a double winner last year in the Under 18, capturing the 110m and 400m hurdles.

Walker was the Under-18 200m champion last year, O'Hara is the defending Under-20 200m champion, while Bryan, who is presently competing at the NCAA Division one Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkanasas, will get a chance to avenge last year's high jump loss to Brown.

Ruseas' Lamara Distin and Wolmer's Girls' Janeek Brown, will defend their titles in the Girls' Under-18 high jump and 100m hurdles.

There are several defending champions named in the Under-20 Girls' squad, including double champions, Rochelle Frazer of Edwin Allen, who won both the discus and shot put, and Sashagaye Whyte of Vere Technical in the 1500m, and Holmwood's Tamara Moncreiffe in the triple jump.

Jamaica will be hoping to surpass the 89 medals, 42 gold, 34 silver and 13 bronze garnered in Fort de France, Martinique, a year ago.

>>>>Full squad<<<<

Girls' Under-18

1. Annakay Allen

2. Junelle Bromfield

3. Devia Brown

4. Janeek Brown

5. Shellece Clarke

6. Jeima Davis

7. Lamara Distin

8. Britnie Dixon

9. Shaniel English

10. Chrisani May

11. Shiann Salmon

12. kimone Shaw

13. Shyledeen Smith

14. Sahjay Stevens

15. Safia Thompson

16. Ave-Anna Venair

17. Sanique Walker

18. Satanya Wright

Girls' Under-20

1. isheka Binns

2. Lisa Buchanan

3. Saqukine Cameron

4. Ayesha Champagnie

5. Rochelle Frazer

6. Trishauna Hemmings

7. Tiffany James

8. Shannon Kalawan

9. Andrenette Knight

10. Dawnalee Loney

11. Shanice Love

12. Shanae McKenzie

13. rene Medley

14. Tamara Moncrieffe

15. Safia morgan

16. Yanique Thompson

17. Shanieke Watson

18. Natalliah Whyte

19. Sasha-Gaye Whyte

20. Jeanine Williams

21. Yeaschea Williams

Boys' Under-18

1. Xavier Angus

2. Timor Barrett

3. Leon Clarke

4. Pakito Dudley

5. Rushane Edwards

6. Devaughn Ellington

7. Javauney James

8. Keenon Lawrence

9. Leaonardo Ledgister

10. Jhevaughn Matherson (pending fitness)

11. Kyle Mitchell

12. Kevin Nedrick

13. Jordan Roberts

14. Shemar Salmon

15. Christopher Taylor

16.Shammawi Wellington

17. Lushane Wilson

18. Tyreke Wilson

Boys' Under-20

1. Akeem Bloomfield

2. Clayton Brown

3. Christoff Bryan

4. Raheem Chambers

5. Nigel Ellis

6. Demar Gayle

7. Daniel Glave

8. Thaleentino Green

9. Jaheel Hyde

10. Akeem Kerr

11. Sanjae Lawrence

12. Odaine Lewis

13. Michael O'Hara

14. Shevon Parkes

15. Seanie Selvin

16. Devaughn Smith

17. Paul Tate

18. Terry Thomas

19. Chad Walker

20. Obrien Wasome

21. Marvin Williams

Management team

Chef de Mission: Sandra Swyers-Watson (principal, St Jago); Manager: Dalton Bailey (Vere); Asst Manager Rosalie Walker, Jennifer Brown, David Hanson; head coach Orville Brown (JC); coaches Eldemire Smith (Steths), Richard Smith (KC), Dave Anderson (Holmwood), Mark Prince (St Andrew), Omar Hawes (Calabar);