Four young athletes qualified for this year's CARIFTA Games with sterling performances during Sunday's season-opening track and field meet at the National Sports Centre.

Shot putter Brittany Marshall (15), a gold medallist last year, led the qualifiers while others securing places were Derrick Golding, Tristan Francis and Latroya Darrell.

Golding also qualified in the shot, throwing a personal best of 13.12 metres with a 16-pound ball - much heavier than the 13.2 pound ball to be used at CARIFTA.

Fourteen-year-old Francis ran a time of 11.2 seconds to qualify in the 100 metres, doing so against a strong head wind.

CARIFTA under-17 silver medallist Latroya Darrell, also 14, cleared 11.2 metres in the triple jump off a short approach, so beating her leap of 11.18 metres at the Games last year.

Another track and field meet will be held at the National Sports Centre on Saturday, January 25, starting at 1 p.m., and meet director Mike Watson is inviting all youngsters from the affiliated clubs and any others interested in competing to come along.

"We are hoping to attract more clubs and more open distance runners, especially road racers who should be inspired by Race Weekend's international runners' success and no doubt will learn that many, in fact, don't just train on the track but make it a priority to race on the track," said Watson.

"Most local athletes will be leading up to Race Weekend and should attempt to improve their fitness whether they are a fun runner or a more serious athlete with some valuable track racing. They will find it's more fun than they think and it will help them to be much faster by the May 24 Marathon Derby race."