By BARBARA WALKIN

Senior FN Reporter

barbara@nasguard.com

Nivea Smith and Ryan Penn will lead the Grand Bahama contingent of the junior athletes that are representing The Bahamas at the Junior CAC Championships next week in Trinidad and Tobago.

Smith and Penn will be joined by Shelleyka Rolle, Carlene Johnson, Raymond Higgs, Anjoun Armaly, Darion Duncombe, Tradecio Davis, Juan Lewis, Charles Williams and Johnaton Davis.

Travelling with the team will be assistant coach Caudel McNab and chaperone Angela Rolle.

"This is a very disciplined group and they are expected to do well," said McNab yesterday during a press briefing at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

"We expect them to perform to the best of their ability and to stay healthy," added McNab, who noted that usually this is one of the major concerns when athletes travel.

"Sometimes freaky things happen, but we expect them to stay healthy," he reiterated.

The coaches will monitor the athletes as much as they can, noted McNab.

This group of athletes are very confident, enthusiastic about the trip and excited about competing against the other Caribbean athletes.

"They are all mentally prepared and so I think we have a good squad," assured McNab.

With all their recent top- notch performances on the track, it appears as though without a word, Smith and Penn are looked at as the leaders on this team.

Smith and Penn will be competing in the 100m, 200m and relay events.

Rolle will compete in the 800m and Johnson in the relay and long jump. Higgs, another talented athlete will compete in three events - the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

Armaly qualified for the long jump; Duncombe for the 400m and Davis for the 4x400 and 800m.

Lewis will compete in the 400m and 4x400m; Williams in the 800m and Davis in the long jump and relay.

The athletes are expected to leave for Nassau sometime this week, to join up with their counterparts for the trip to T and T.

NIVEA SMITH

RYAN PENN