A happy Jerry Holness (left), tournament director of Central Champs, smiles as he counts the sponsorship money which Kenneth Dodd, consumer marketing manager for Milo at Nestle Jamaica Limited, hands over at yesterdays Central Athletic Championships launch at G.C. Foster College. Trudy Williams of JCK Consulting Group (centre) looks on. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Living up to their slogan, 'The Food Drink of Champions', Milo joined forces with central Jamaica schools to sponsor the Central Athletic Championships.

Kenneth Dodd, consumer marketing manager for Milo at Nestle Jamaica Limited, said his company's move is to continue to help produce champions.

"This sponsorship is in our effort to help with the development of track and field in Jamaica and produce more champions," said Dodd.

He also noted: "Central Champs has not been sponsored in years, and we see it as an opportunity to get on board," he added.

During yesterday's press launch held at the G.C. Foster College, Dodd handed over $150,000 in cash to Jerry Holness, tournament director of Central Champs.

Grateful for sponsorship

Milo's sponsorship is worth $800,000, part of which was handed over in cash yesterday. Dodd noted that most of the sponsorship money will go towards marketing, medals, administrative costs and field rental.

Holness was grateful for the sponsorship.

"I am happy for the sponsorship because we will not have to be wondering after the event how we are going to pay our bills," he said.

The championships will be held over two days, February 28-March 1, starting at 9:00 a.m. each day. This year will also mark the first time that the championships, which started as the Ash Wednesday Meeting in 1960, will be held on a mondo track.

It has produced stars such as Merlene Ottey, Sandie Richards, Debie-Ann Parris-Paynes, Merlene Fraser, Veronica Campbell, Sherone Simpson, Beverly McDonald, Deon Hemmings, Lorraine Fenton, Carl Lawson, Michael Blackwood and Christopher Williams.

Dodd said that because of these stars and their achievements at the international level Milo decided to sponsor the meet.

'Most medal winners'

"Central Jamaica has produced the most medal winners for Jamaica at the international level, and this had made the decision easier for them."

Milo also sponsors Western Champs and Western Relays.

Pat Anderson. former president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association, who moved the vote of thanks, hailed Milo's commitment.

He said: "You will definitely help us to produce more future champions."

The events to be contested are 400m hurdles, shot put, long jump, high jump, triple jump, discus, javelin, sprint medley, 1550m, 3000m, 5000m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 4x100m and 4x400m.

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