THE NINTH staging of the Youngster Goldsmith Hurdles and Field Events Classic will be held at a new venue this year, the National Stadium East complex, on February 4.
With the change from Kingston College, North Street campus, the meet will have a number of changes. This year will see the introduction of the medley relay (400m, 200m, 200m & 800m) while 100m invitational races for men and women will be divided in to A and B races.
The 400m hurdles will no longer be a time final. Heats will be run and these will be followed by a final. The discus, shot put, and pole vault will be staged inside the National Stadium for safety reasons.
Organising committee member Donovan White said the meet has outgrown KC's ground at North Street.
FIRST CLASS OFFERING
"We have outgrown the capacity of the schools' campus because of the increasing number of competitors who attend the meet each year, and therefore if we are going to continue the development of the meet as a first class offering, we had to seek an alternate venue," said White.
White said they are expecting over 1500 athletes from 40 teams this year, especially with the cancellation of the National Hurdles & Field Events championships.
Like last year, the meet will open the season for the Grand Prix 400m hurdles contest. The other scheduled meets which will host the four-race Grand Prix Series are Western Relays and Gibson Relays . The fourth meet will be announced soon.
During yesterday's press conference held at Glaxo Smithkline Jamaica Limited, Beechwood Avenue in Kingston, National Com-mercial Bank, through it' Key Card Cash brand, contributed $250,000 in cash with an undisclosed sum to be given to the winners of the 100m invitational and first to third in the relays.
Lucozade has also pumped in $200,000 in cash. They will provide further assistance in terms of products.
