A RECORD 60 schools have signalled their intention to participate in the Sports Plus-sponsored Howard Jackson Relay carnival to be held next week Saturday (January 18) at Lyssons playfield in St. Thomas.
Already entered are defending girls champions St. Jago High and the vastly improving Holmwood Technical boys who demonstrated their well being with excellent displays at the Swizzle/JC meet last Saturday.
Both teams received a ticket to the 2002 Penn Relays and the winners this year will also be recipients of a similar prize.
Kingston College and Vere Technical, the respective VMBS Boys and Girls Athletics Championships winners, are already confirmed to participate.
The event, which is staged annually in honour of past Morant Bay High Principal, the late Howard Jackson, was formerly held on his school grounds. However, it had to be removed to a more spacious venue due to its development.
For the fifth year running, Sports Plus Limited are sponsoring the highly anticipated event which is well supported by people in the parish.
"The community supports the event tremendously," said Meet Director Garth Gayle. "We are looking forward to another successful staging. It is a carnival atmosphere reminiscent of the Penn or Gibson Relays and the spectators have fallen in love with it."
Events down for contention beginning at 8:30am include: 4x150m, 4x300m, 4x600m and the Medley relays for boys and girls. Special awards will be handed out to winners of designated Championship events.
With the development of the sport in mind, the organisers have put special events in place for the primary schools in and around St Thomas.
