Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

( L - R ) Rose, Pinnock, Sutherland, Blake, Calvert

BEIJING, China:

Jamaica's hunt for medals is under way at the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships, at the Chaoyang Sports Centre in Beijing, China.

The Jamaicans are down to face a record number of countries - 182 - 11 more nations than what took part in Grosseto, Italy, two years ago.

According to the IAAF "this is a particularly notable figure consi-dering that the IAAF has a total of 212 member federations".

The next greatest number of participating teams for this IAAF World Athletics Series event, which were inaugurated in 1986, was the 170 countries that competed at the 1998 edition in Annecy, France.

Meanwhile, quarter-miler Sonita Sutherland, a silver medallist from Grosseto, heads the list of 10 Jamaicans down to participate on Tuesday's opening day (last night Jamaica time).

Apart from Kaliese Spencer who chose the 400m hurdles over the 400m, the closest persons to Sutherland in the one-lap event are Russian Kseniya Zadorina (51.81) and Jessica Beard (51.89). Sutherland's teammate Bobby-Gaye Wilkins' 52.85 is far down on the list, but with her determination, could surprise many.

Strong favourite

Sutherland, who leads the event with a personal best 51.13, is the strong favourite for the 400m title, and she has vowed to take things step by step.

"I am going out there to take it round by round," she said. "I am not going to push anything," added the CAC Junior champion who has the three next fastest times - 51.23, 51.30 and 51.37 in the world this year.

Her teammate, Wilkins, hopes for at least a semi-final qualification.

"I am going out there to do my best. I hope to run a good race so I can make it to the semi-finals and onwards," she added.

Sprinter Remaldo Rose and 400m hurdler Sherene Pinnock, both bronze medallists from Grosseto, are scheduled to compete in the 100m and 400m hurdles respectively.

Rose is expected to battle with teammate Yohan Blake and American and event-favourite Willie Perry, who clocked 10.12 seconds this season.

Rose's personal best of 10.29 was done at Champs while Blake recorded his personal best of 10.33 to win at the CAC Junior Championships last month.

Blake is looking forward to his first World Juniors, while Rose said he will take it round by round.

"I am really looking forward to this 100m," Blake said. "I have been training so hard for it."

A step at a time

Rose said: "I'm just going to take it a step at a time, execute myself well and do my best in the final."

Pinnock faces a strong field, which includes teammate Kaliese Spencer and the United States' Nicole Leach. Based on times and experience, these three should be on the medal podium.

Leach leads the event with 55.35 ahead of Spencer whose 55.61 is the national junior record, while Pinnock has a 56.90 clocking.

In the female sprint, Schillonie Calvert and either Carrie Russell, the CAC Under-17 sprint double champion, Anastasia Le-Roy or Danielle Jaffrey will face the starter, hoping for a place in the afternoon's second round.

American Alexandria Anderson, the world leader with 11.12 seconds, and her teammate Gabrielle Mayo (11.16) are the two fastest this season. But Calvert, with a personal and season best 11.21, could be a 'spoiler' if fully fit.

Coming off injury

Calvert, a finalist from the last Championships, said: "I am just going out there to do my best because I am just coming off injury. "Hopefully with God's help I can help myself to quality for the next round, which is in the evening, then put myself in the final the next day.

"I am feeling much better now," said Calvert, who was doubtful after pulling up in the 200m final which she won at CAC Juniors in 23.20 seconds.

In the men's 400m Edino Steele and Allodin Fothergill will carry Jamaica's hopes for the first medal in this event since Jermaine Gonzales won bronze in Kingston in 2002.

The duo will have to contend with Great Britain's world leader Martyn Rooney (45.35) and Yuzo Kanemaru of Japan (45.41). Only those two have ran faster than Steele, who did 45.81 in April.

Both, Fothergil and United States-based Steele, who will be representing Jamaica for the second time, are also looking for great things in the one-lap event.

Fothergill, a student at G.C. Foster College, said: "I think I will do good in the first round, this is the best I have been all season."

Steele said: "I would like to perform well in the heats. I have been doing good lately, so I just want to run to win comfortable, not all out, but to make myself secure for the semi-finals," he added.