Richard Bryan, Freelance Reporter

Windalco's Kirkvine is expected to provide an excellent track as well as the required organisation for the first of the JAAA/Puma Development meets, today, starting at 10:am.

Up to yesterday morning, more than 1000 athletes were registered to compete from more than 20 schools. Subsidized lunches will be provided.

The meet dates back to 1982 when it was held at Manchester High and run under the auspices of the then Manchester Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA). In 1986 it grew into one of national participation as Alcan took over as sole sponsor and the meet hosted a year later at Kirkvine Sports Club.

Its growing prominence was rewarded with the status of a JAAA development meet in 1993. Floodlights were introduced a year later and in 2001, it was entrenched as the second meet of the national athletic calendar when renamed the JAAA/Puma Development meet.

A plethora of national stars have honed or paraded their talent here including the likes of the Deon Hemmings, now a Patron, Winthrop Graham, James Beckford, Chris Williams, Loraine Graham Fenton, the Turner Sisters, Inez, Yvette and Janice, along with Chris Williams, Veronica Campbell, Sherone Simpson and Omar Brown.

100 metres excluded

This year the very popular 100 metres has been excluded as the organisers try to avoid the tendency of the meet to go into nightfall. However, teams will be adequately facilitated with 200, 400 and 800s in Classes 1-4. There will also be the 3000m Open for females and 5000m for men. The distance medley has been added as a qualifier for the Penn Relays.

Each year the organisers take time out to honour the contribution of either athletes or administrations within this region. Charlie Fuller and coach Jerry Holness are expected to join that list today.