NIKOLI BLACKMAN and Makaira Wallace are among the 72 athletes chosen to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the August 9-23 Pan American Junior Games in Asuncion, Paraguay. Blackman, who struck gold for T&T in the Men’s 50 metres freestyle at the 2023 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Israel, is listed to compete in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free events in Paraguay. Wallace captured two silver medals at the 2024 UCI Junior Track World Cycling Championships, in China, finishing second in both the women’s keirin and 500m time trial. At Asuncion 2025, she will compete in the sprint, keirin and team sprint. Wallace’s World Juniors performance earned her the 2024 First Citizens Sports Foundation Youth Sportswoman of the Year award. Jelani Nedd made it a double for cycling, taking Youth Sportsman of the Year honours. Nedd is also on Team TTO for the Asuncion Games. Olympians Zuri Ferguson, Jaden Marchan and Shakeem McKay are travelling to Paraguay as well for the hemispheric Games. Ferguson, a US-based swimmer, will fly the T&T flag in the Women’s 100m backstroke, as well as the 200 back and 200 individual medley. Marchan and McKay were part of the Men’s 4x400m relay team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In Asuncion, they will compete in the same event, and will both also line up in the individual 400m. The list of outstanding athletes selected for Team TTO for the Pan American Junior Games also includes long jumper Janae De Gannes and table tennis player Chloe Fraser. In a T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) press release, yesterday, the list of 72 athletes and 37 officials was announced. “We are proud to unveil this delegation of rising stars who will represent Trinidad and Tobago on one of the biggest junior multi-sport stages in the Americas,” said TTOC president Diane Henderson. “These Games are not only about competition —they’re about the holistic development, exposure, and igniting the dreams of our young athletes.” Team TTO will be represented in 13 sports in Asuncion—archery, athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball 3x3, cycling, golf, hockey, rugby, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and sailing. “The TTOC extends its full support to the athletes,” the press release stated, “and wishes the delegation success as they fly the national flag high in Paraguay, as the athletes seek to gain international experience and build toward future events such as the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games (senior level) and the LA 2028 Summer Olympic Games.” Jariel Mc Collin is the Team TTO Chef De Mission. “In keeping with the TTOC’s athlete centeredness and youth focus initiative,” the press release explained, “the team will be led by a youthful but experienced Chef de Mission, Jariel Mc Collin, who will oversee delegation operations and provide guidance and support throughout the Games. Cam’ron Dinoon - Men’s Individual Recurve, Sherwin Francis (Coach/Manager) Jaden Marchan (Men’s 400m, 4x400m), Shakeem McKay (Men’s 400m, 4x400m), Dillon Leacock (Men’s 400m, 4x400m), Kyrell Thomas (Men’s 4x400m), Jaden James (Men’s Discus), Lebron James (Men’s Javelin), Anthony Diaz (Men’s Javelin), Janae De Gannes (Women’s Long Jump, 4x100m), Shaniqua Bascombe (Women’s 100m, 4x100m), Lalenii Grant (Women’s Discus), Shakera Kirk (Women’s Discus), Alexxe Henry (Women’s 4x100m), Sierra Joseph (Women’s 4x100m), Keneisha Shelbourne (Women’s Triple Jump, Donnell Stafford (Manager), Kenrick Williams (Sprints Coach), Wendell Williams (Jumps Coach), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (Throws Coach). Zuri Ferguson (Women’s 100m Back, 200m Back, 200IM, Relay Medley), Amari Ash (Women’s 50m Free, 100m Free), Tyla Ho A Shu (Medley), Nikoli Blackman (Men’s 50m Free, 100m Free, 200m Free), Zarek Wilson (Men’s 50m Free, 100m Free, 100m Fly), Zachary Anthony (Medley, Johann Matamoro - 100m Back, 100m Fly, Bertram Blackman (Manager), Maurice Faria (Coach) Amara Urquhart (Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles), Reese Marcano (Men’s Singles, Mixed Doubles), T’Shelle Barnes (Women’s Singles), Anil Seepaul (Coach/Manager) BASKETBALL (Men’s) Leshaun Alfred, Jason Friday, Tyrese Fields, Josiah Marryshow, Melissa Guerero (Coach), Triston Benjamin (Manager) Jelani Nedd (Men’s Team Sprint, Sprint, Keirin), Danell James (Men’s Team Sprint, Sprint, Keirin), Ryan D’Abreau (Men’s Team Sprint, Road Race), Jadian Neaves (Men’s Road Race), Makaira Wallace (Women’s Sprint, Keirin, Team Sprint), Alexia Wilson (Women’s Madison), Phoebe Sandy (Women’s Madison, Keirin, Sprint, Team Sprint), Kyra Williams (Women’s Team Sprint), Gregory D’Andrade (Coach), Delia Toppin-Lopez (Manager), Jovian Gomez (Mechanic) GOLF (Men’s) Jerseem Boodram, Ronald Bishop (Manager/Coach) FIELD HOCKEY (Men’s) Leumas Neptune (Goalkeeper), Adam Wyatt, Aidan Elias, Akhenaton Richardson (Goalkeeper), Alexander Rowe, Alexander Nieves, Camron Adamson, Cristiano Rouse, Jabari Alexander Justin Day, Levi Anderson, Liam Mac Leod, Nicholas Siu Butt, Nicholas Whiteman, Rene Mohammed, Wayne Edwards, Glen Francis (Coach), Akim Toussaint (Asst. Coach/Videographer), Kimberly Wellington (Manager) RUGBY (Men’s) Aaron Stanley, Abraham Eversley, Adriano Baptise, Edmund George, Elijah Williams, Jaheim Walton, Jasani Daniel, Jeremiah Moore, Jerrell Vincent, Judah Francis, Mathew Edwards Micah Stafford, Jerome Poon Tip (Coach), Pratima Sooker (Manager) TABLE TENNIS Chloe Fraser (Women’s Singles, Doubles, Team), Jordan Thong (Women’s Singles, Doubles, Team), Alexander D. Gillen (Coach), Sharon Bravo-Phillip (Manager/Chaperone) Zachary Byng (Men’s Singles), Kyle Hannays (Manager/Coach) TRIATHLON (Women’s) Kaya Rankine-Beadle, Kiyomi Rankine (Manager/Coach) Stefan Stuven (Men’s ILCA 7 Dinghy), Kyla Marie Morris (Women’s ILCA 6 Dinghy), Andrew Lewis (Manager/Coach) Jariel Mc Collin (Chef De Mission), , Lovie Santana-Duke (Games Operation Manager), Avion Ashton (NOC Welfare Officer), Chanelle Young (Administrative Personnel), Melanie Gulston (Press Attaché) MEDICAL TEAM Rhonda Watkins (Doctor), Jude Mc Knight (Doctor) Jelani Baptiste (Physiotherapist), Karielle De Bique (Physiotherapist), Dennora George (Massage Therapist), Brent Elder (Massage Therapist), Keisha Fraser (Massage Therapist), Kwade Paul (Massage Therapist).