THE 11th staging of the UWI Track & Field Invitational Meet promises to be an exciting of track and field and more for sports enthusiasts.

Slated to take place at the UWI/Usain Bolt Track on Saturday, March 23, 2013, commencing at 10:00 am, the meet will include on its order of events 100m, 400m, 4x400m, jumps and throws.

For the first time, the sprint medley relay has been added and the order of events crafted in such a way that it facilitates multi-event athletes to complete a pentathlon, if they wish to do so. Jamaica’s two top professional clubs, Racers and MVP, have confirmed their participation, along with Swept Track Club & Pro Launch. Top collegiate teams from UWI, UTech, and GC Foster, among others, will be joined by overseas teams from St Augustine, Trinidad, Cave Hill, Barbados, and club teams from Curacao and The Bahamas.

Admission is $700 for adults and $300 for children under 12. Organisers offer even more value for money this year, as patrons will not only experience high-quality athletics, but also an after-party at the same venue.

Meet director and organising committee chairman Grace Jackson said: “The plan is to increase the quality of the meet with each passing year, offering our patrons more, while providing an opportunity for our track and field athletes to compete under the best circumstances and maximise their preparation for the trials and international competitions.”

Despite tough economic challenges, corporate Jamaica continues to support the event. Puma, with its thrust to develop track and field in Jamaica, extends its partnership to the meet for yet another year. Organisers commend all their sponsors for their unwavering commitment to sporting development through sponsorship of events such as this. TVJ, Gatorade, BSW, Guardsman, Keir, Corporate Interiors, Carimed, CB Group, Digicel, UWI Credit Union, UWI Bookshop, among others, are behind this year’s staging of the meet.

The proceeds from the Invitational continues to service scholarships and sports development as the university aims to improve its facilities to capture the continuous flow of talent emerging from the junior ranks, as well as those who will make the choice to return to Jamaica and train.