Western Bureau: The Milo Western Relays, western Jamaica premier track and field event for the past three decades, will have its 31st staging today.
Unlike previous years, though, this year's event will be staged at G.C. Foster College in St Catherine.
Moving base
The decision to move the popular one-day championship from Montego Bay, its perennial home base, was taken because Catherine Hall Stadium, which has been hosting the event in recent years, is unavailable due to ongoing construction work.
"We are deeply saddened that some track and field athletes and supporters in western Jamaica may be deprived of being involved in what has been Montego Bay's flagship track and field event for over three decades," Ray Harvey, the meet director, said of the decision to move this year's event.
While the athletes will be denied the beautiful Montego Bay ambience, it is unlikely that they will miss much, as with the top athletes from high schools, clubs and institutions expected to be on show, the quality of the event should be as good, if not better, than previous years.
Gleaner/YouthLink Awards
It has attracted a record $1.2 million in sponsorship - a 20 per cent increase over last year's package - and will also hold added significance as two events, the 4x800 metres relay and the 100 metres sprint, have been grand prix events and should be an added source of motivation for the athletes.
The high school athletes will also be targeting The Gleaner/Youthlink Awards, which will go to the outstanding junior male and female athletes.
Victory for schools in the grand prix events will put them in line to reap rich financial rewards, as the ultimate winner of the grand prix series, which includes the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Invitational Classic, the G.C. Foster Last Chance Meet and the Gibson Relays, will pocket $150,000 in cash.
With the Milo Western Relays deemed a preparatory event for Gibson Relays, Boys and Girls Championships and the National Senior Trials, both student athletes and their senior counterparts should be gunning to make powerful statements.
The Holmwood Technical girls will be aiming to retain the 'Top Female High School' crown at the expense of perennial contenders such as STETHS, Herbert Morrison and Manning's.
Kingston College will be gunning to do the same with the boys equivalent, which they won last year.
MVP, Racers, G.C. Foster, Atletico and Comets are expected to dazzle in the clubs/institutions segment.