MANDEVILLE
THE sizzling start on the local athletic circuit experienced at last week's Jamaica College Meet is expected to be maintained at today's Puma/JAAA Development Meet hosted by Windalco at Kirkvine Sports Club in Mandeville, Manchester. Action starts at 8.30 a.m.
The development meet which is used as a qualifier for the boys and girls championship should feature all island queens Vere Technical and archrivals St. Jago High. St. Jago were the top girls school at JC with Melaine Walker and Kerron Steart setting meet records in the Class 1 100 and 200m.
However, the biggest attraction should be newly crowned sportsman of the year Chris Williams. Williams, a former student of Bellefield Comprehensive, will take the track in the men's open 100 metres.
A second feature of the meet, will see Mardrea Hyman, the first Jamaican woman to reach a 1500m final at the World Championships, joining the men and boys in a 5000m race.
Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president Pat Anderson is expecting more than 150 schools, colleges and clubs and as many as 3,000 athletes to participate at today's meet.
In addition to Williams, Hyman and the St. Jago girls the meet has also attracted World Youth 400m hurdles champion Camille Robinson, world junior relay medalists Nadine Palmer and Aneisha McLaughlin of Holmwood Technical.
Anderson added that he was hoping that the cool spell which has hit Mandeville in recent days would subside so that the athletes can enjoy the environment.
Richard Bryan
