MICHAEL TOMLINMichael Tomlin, darling of the annual High Mountain Coffee 10K and 5K road races, will be among the stars vying for the $30,000 cash award at the 24th renewal of the spectacular High Mountain Coffee Road Races when Olympian Deon Hemmings-McCatty fires the starter's pistol at the Williamsfield Roundabout in Manchester, tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
Among his competitors will be two athletes from the prestigious Shore Athletic Club in New Jersey. Edmund Burke, a delightful runner who lives in Maryland, will return for a second attempt at dethroning his Jamaican counterparts having done so in 1999 when he represented Shore AC at the High Mountain Coffee 10K and 5K. Accompanying Burke will be Deirdre Brill of Philadelphia, also a Shore AC athlete and graduate student majoring in Caribbean Studies.
Tomlin who won the 10K three consecutive years, 2002 to 2004, was expected in the island yesterday.
According to the organisers, John O. Minott Jr. and John O. Minott Sr. of Jamaica Standard Products, "we anticipate a bumper crowd this year as the event has all the right elements to make it a stellar event."
RECORD PRIZE MONEY
There is a record $300,000 in prize money up for grabs including the first prize combined package of $30,000 donated by one of our main sponsors the Jamaica Public Service Company plus a JMMB account valued at $10,000. Both male and female winners will be given similar prizes. Second prize will be $20,000 and third prize $15,000, the greater part donated by the Jamaica Public Service Company.
Lucozade Sport has donated cash for the primary team prizes as well as gift baskets for individual winners. The Company will also provide Lucozade for all runners.
The event has been a remarkable community event for central Jamaica and the 24th renewal is an outstanding milestone. "Next year we will celebrate a quarter century not out" quipped the senior Minott.
He added: "Hundreds of athletes from across the island will be at the start at 2:30 p.m. when the race begins. We are indeed happy for the interest shown in all the categories in the 10K and 5K."
Alongside title sponsors Jamaica Standard Products, the High Mountain Coffee 10K and 5K have attracted a number of sponsors this year, whose commitment to prize money, gifts and hospitality for runners and the team has made a difference in the execution of the 24-year-old event.
Minott Sr. said they were grateful for the close to $300,000 in cash prizes as well as the gifts from companies such as Digicel and Lucozade.
The Hartford Cultural Group from Westmoreland as well as the Digicel Rising Star will be providing entertainment for the large crowd.
