�Ӱ��԰�

Jamaica's top athletes will be seeking selection to the Budapest World Championships between August 19-27, when they participate in the National Senior Championships (Trials) over four days, starting on Thursday at the National Stadium.

It is expected to be one of the most competitive Trials ever, and with several new brigades coming to the fore, it could be the last hurrah for some veterans in what could be the changing of the guard.

STAR Sports predicts the top three finishers in selected events.

WOMEN

100 METRES

This one will not be for the weak hearts, as it will see the most talented set of young sprinters competing at a National Senior Championships, and there will be many surprises as the country's young brigade looks set to make big statements.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will make her season debut in the event. Like last year, she could only contest the first round, as she has a bye for Budapest, being the defending champion at the World Championships.

Elaine Thompson Herah, after her season debut in the event last Saturday at the JAAA All Comers meet, will have all eyes on her. Thompson Herah, the two-time Olympic Games double sprint champion and fastest living woman, had a below-par performance in her opening race, winning with a modest 11.24 seconds.

Three rounds could spell trouble for her, and she could even struggle to make the final.

The magic of coach Stephen Francis will come to the fore again, with defending champion Shericka Jackson set to go all the way, possibly with a sub-10.7 seconds.

It will be difficult to predict the next two spots, but after keeping young Tina Clayton in hiding for most of the season, Francis will unleash the Under-20 World Championships winner, and despite her age, she is an expert in running the rounds; and a personal best is on the cards with Alana Reid's national junior record of 10.92 seconds in danger.

Reid, Kevona Davis, Briana Williams, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes, and Jonielle Smith will all be in a dogfight for the third spot.

TOP THREE

1. Shericka Jackson

2. Tina Clayton

3. Kevona Davis

200 METRES

It has been her best season since attending college in the United States of America (USA) and the University of Arkansas' sophomore, Davis, the second fastest Jamaican woman in the half-lap event, behind Jackson's 21.98 seconds with a personal best of 22.33, looks set to win her first senior title. Natalliah Whyte and former Hydel star Ashanti Moore will fight for the other two spots.

TOP THREE

1. Kevona Davis

2. Natalliah Whyte

3. Ashanti Moore

400 METRES

Stephenie Ann McPherson with season-best of 51.69 seconds, and defending champion Candice McLeod with 50.80, are struggling this season, which clears the way for Stacy Ann Williams and Charokee Young. Both could fall to the most improved quarter-miler this season in former Vere Technical athlete Nickisha Pryce.

Third-place finisher for the University of Arkansas at the recent NCAA Championships, Pryce, looks set to improve on her personal best of 50.23 seconds with a sub-50 seconds.

TOP THREE

1. Nickisha Pryce

2. Stacy Ann Williams

3. Charokee Young

100 METRE HURDLES

A new champion will be crowned as the outstanding Britany Anderson has been out for the season because of a knee injury.

Veteran Danielle Williams is peaking at the right time following her recent big run at the New York Grand Prix, where she was third in a wind-aided 12.33 seconds, however, she will have to contend with the outstanding Ackera Nugent, the NCAA Championships winner for the University of Arkansas, who has a season- and personal-best 12.43 seconds.

Megan Tapper, Demisha Roswell, Amoi Brown and Under-20 World Championships winner Kerrica Hill will be involved in an intense battle for third.

TOP THREE

1. Ackera Nugent

2. Danielle Williams

3. Megan Tapper

400 METRES HURDLES

Four athletes, led by defending champion Janieve Russell, will be involved in a hot contest. Russell is yet to find her best footing and will have to improve big time on her season best of 54.91 seconds, but she produces at Trials.

Rushell Clayton has been the best Jamaican in the event with a season-best 53.84 seconds, while Andrenette Knight, with a season-best 54.20, will be seeking redemption after falling last year in the final.

Shiann Salmon will also be eyeing another top three in what should be a very close finish.

TOP THREE

1. Rushell Clayton

2. Andrenette Knight

3. Janieve Russell

TRIPLE JUMP

Shanieka Ricketts, yet to find her best form this season, and for the first time since contesting the event at Trials, will not be the outright favourite to win. Former Edwin Allen High jumper Ackelia Smith, the NCAA silver medallist with 14.54 metres for the University of Texas, could pull off an upset. Ricketts, whose season best of 14.53 metres is one centimetre behind Smith is, however, expected to rise to the occasion and win another title.

TOP THREE

1. Shanieka Ricketts

2. Ackelia Smith

3. Kimberly Williams

These athletes are expected to win their events

Lamara Distin - high jump

Ackelia Smith - long jump

Danniel Thomas Dodd - shot put

Natoya Goule - 800 metres

MEN

100 METRES

Two of the country's best sprinting prospects in Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake will seek their first men's senior national title.

Both are in good form, especially Blake, who has been impressive on the international circuit. His best of 9.89 seconds in winning the Los Angeles Grand Prix is the fastest by a Jamaican and is ranked fourth on the World Athletics top list. Seville, with a season-best 9.95 seconds, is coming off an injury.

Defending champion Yohan Blake will call on his vast experience, while Julian Forte, Kadrian Goldson, and juniors Deandre Daley and national junior record holder Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, also coming off an injury, will all be hoping for big performances.

TOP THREE

1. Ackeem Blake

2. Oblique Seville

3. Yohan Blake

400 METRES

Three Jamaicans, led by Sean Bailey with a season- and personal-best 44.33 seconds, have gone sub-45 seconds in the one-lap event so far. Antonio Watson's 44.77 seconds and Zandrion Barnes' 44.90 have shown good form recently.

Barnes won in New York in 45.05 seconds, and Watson ran a personal best of 20.49 in the 200 metres at the recent JAAA All Comers meet.

Defending champion Jevaughn Powell, with a season-best 45.02 seconds, will be hoping to win back-to-back titles and cannot be counted out.

TOP THREE

1. Sean Bailey

2. Antonio Watson

3. Jevaughn Powell

110 METRES HURDLES

Expect a cracker as defending champion Hansle Parchment and the country's best this season, Rasheed Broadbell, with a best of 13.08 seconds, will be in a gigantic clash, and sub-13 seconds clocking could be on the cards.

Former Jamaica College athletes Phillip Lemonious - joint second with Parchment with a season and personal best of 13.24 seconds - and Tyler Mason, along with overseas-based collegiate athletes Jaheem Hayles of Syracuse and Giano Roberts of Clemson, should have a battle royal for third.

TOP THREE

1. Rasheed Broadbell

2. Hansle Parchment

3. Phillip Lemonious

LONG JUMP

After losing out to his University of Arkansas teammate Carey McLeod at the recent NCAA Championships, Wayne Pinnock, with the third-longest mark in the world this season of 8.37 metres, should avenge that defeat.

Both could fall, however, to national record holder Tajay Gayle, who has been slowed by injury. Gayle, despite a modest season best of 8.12 metres, has the pedigree and only needs one excellent attempt to show his class.

TOP THREE

1. Tajay Gayle

2. Wayne Pinnock

3. Carey McLeod

DISCUS

Fredrick Dacres has been the form man over the past weeks with good performances overseas and should go all the way, despite Roje Stona being the season leader with his personal best of 68.84 metres.

TOP THREE

1. Fredrick Dacres

2. Traves Smikle

3. Roje Stona

These athletes are expected to win their events

Jaydon Hibbert - triple jump

Romaine Beckford - high jump

Rasheed Dwyer - 200 metres

Jaheel Hyde - 400 metres hurdles

Navasky Anderson - 800 metres