Fraser-Pryce, Carter headline Queen’s/Grace Jackson Meet
THE world’s fastest woman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and World Championships bronze medallist Nesta Carter will lead a number of athletes at the 13th staging of the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Track Meet, which takes place at the National Stadium today.
In honour of the Queen’s School’s 60th anniversary, a special invitational 60m has been included for male and female elite athletes and both Fraser-Pryce and Carter will be participating. The World Indoor Championships in Poland is this March, and Carter has already indicated his interest.
Co-Chair and meet director of the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Meet, Olive McNaughton, said that despite efforts over the years to reduce the number of entries, they already have 2,700 athletes registered.
“It’s like we having a mini Champs, because I have 2,700 persons registered, so we will have to make some decisions as to cutting back tomorrow (today), but we will see how it goes,” McNaughton told the Jamaica Observer yesterday, as she fine-tuned preparation for the event.
“Even though it’s the 13th staging we still have many challenges. The growth of track and field is so tremendous that everybody wants to run and this time of the year we have the elite and senior athletes also coming out to run,” she noted.
She continued: “We have a great blend of high schools, from Green Pond, Mount Alvernia, Titchfield, and we have schools from as far as Holmwood coming, Vere for the first time, so we really have an abundance of athletes.
“Even though we reduced the number of entries, persons are trying to qualify for Champs. We have over 50 teams for the 4×400,” said McNaughton.
In addition to the special 60m races, there will be 200m, 400m, 800m, 4x400m, discus, shot put, long jump, high jump, and triple jump for all classes.
Admission to the venue is $400, while students with valid IDs and children under 12 are asked to pay $200.
The Queen’s past student and Olympian Carrie Russell will be this year’s meet honoree, while three officials who have worked with the meet for more than 10 years will be honoured. They are Winston Harvey (timekeeper), Hugh ‘Onie’ McDonald (call room), and Taniesha ‘Slim Shady’ Pinnock (finish judge).
— Howard Walker
