( L - R ) Jevaughn Minzie, Tyler Mason - file

EUGENE, Oregon

Forty of the country's top junior athletes will be in action when the 15th staging of the World Junior Championships gets under way at the Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene today.

As many as 167 countries comprising 1540 athletes, 829 males and 711 females, are entered for the six-day championships.

While hosts United States will start favourites to top the championships, Jamaica, after a medal-topping performance a year ago at the World Youth Championships, will be hoping for another sterling performance.

Nine Jamaicans will be in action on today's opening day. Competition will get under way at 10:00 a.m (noon Ja time). Sprint hurdlers Tyler Mason and Marvin Williams will be the first two Jamaicans to hit the track.

The 110 metres hurdles heats will start at 10:50 a.m (12:50 p.m Ja time) and both athletes will be hoping to advance to tomorrow's semi-finals. Mason with his season best 13.25 seconds is just behind world leader, Wilhem Belocian (13.15) of France and David Omoregie (13.17) of Great Britain. Williams, who won gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the World Youth Championships a year ago will be hoping to better his season best 13.52, and move forward.

The 100m heats are also set for today with Raheem Chambers and Jevaughn Minzie expected to face the starter. The semi-finals and final will be run tomorrow.

Five Jamaicans will be in action in today's afternoon session, which will get under way at 7:15 p.m. Jamaican time. World Youth 400 metres champion, Martin Manley and Nathon Allen are down for the heats of the one-lap event.

There will also be first-round action in the girls 100m, where Jonielle Smith is a doubtful starter. Smith has been struggling with a slight hamstring injury. Kedisha Dallas is Jamaica's other representative.

Also in action late today is long jumper Claudette Allen. The qualification round begins at 8:45 p.m. Jamaica time.