Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

World Junior and Youth 100m champion, Dexter Lee, heads a list of 26 athletes released by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) yesterday for the Pan Am Junior Championships in Trinidad.

Lee, who had a medical exemption from the trials, won the World Junior title in Poland last year, and the youth crown a year earlier.

Nickel Ashmeade, who was second in the 200m at last year's World Junior Championships and second and third in the 100m and 200m, respectively, at the 2007 World Youth, along with World Youth 200m champion Ramone McKenzie, is also included in the squad.

Senior trip

Nikita Tracey, like Ashmeade and McKenzie, left the island yesterday for the CAC Championships in Cuba, their first senior trip. The 400m hurdler heads the females. Also included are Jura Levy and national 100m junior record holder Shermaine Williams.

With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus in Trinidad and Tobago, the JAAA included a letter in its release to seek permission from parents and guardians for the athletes to travel to the twin-island republic.

The letter said: "Please be reminded that the outbreak in Trinidad of the H1N1 virus was reported to be the cause of the cancellation of the Caribbean Games, a squash championships and football tournament, all scheduled to be held in July and August 2009. "The Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association will therefore be seeking written parental authorisation for those athletes selected to go to Trinidad as well as the advice of Jamaica's Ministry of Health."

Teams

Girls: Jura Levy, Gayon Evans, Audra Segree, Amoy Blake, Jody-Ann Muir, Antonique Campbell, Tamara Keane, Nikita Tracey, Shermaine Williams, Rosemarie Carty, Candicea Bernard, Micara Vassell and Yushani Durrant.

Boys: Nickel Ashmeade, Sheldon Mitchell, Adolphus Nevers, Ramone McKenzie, Sheldon Williams, Darrion Bent, Dwayne Extoll, Akeem Williams, Jermaine Gayle, Kemoy Campbell, Deuce Carter, K'Don Samuels, Tarik Batchelor, Dexter Lee.

Officials: Manager - Julette Parkes; assistant managers - Charmaine Hanson, Erica Chin Loy; team doctor - Dr Charmaine Dawes. Physiotherapist - Wendy Peart. Head coach - Claude Grant, assistants - Lorna Vernon, Kevin Pryce, Rhansome Edwards and Christopher Harley.