Milo Western Relays on at G C Foster College
ANGELS, St Catherine — Despite the change of venue form Montego Bay Sports Complex to G C Foster Sports College, organisers of the 41st Milo Western Relays have promised “the usual high-quality meet that we are used to seeing”.
The event will get under way at 10:00 am today with the women’s 1500m Open and the men’s 3,000m, two of the 21 individual events that are on the schedule.
The track meet which is the longest consecutive running event of its kind outside of the ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ National Championships and the JAAA National Trials, was shifted from western Jamaican for only the second time, as the running track at Montego Bay Sports Complex is not in a suitable condition to host track meets.
The meet was held at G C Foster 10 years ago and Meet Director Ray Harvey said yesterday they were expecting “some challenges” with the venue change, but added he thinks they will be able to deal with them.
“The main thing is that we will have our usual high-quality meet that our fans have become accustomed to over the years, based on the entries we have received.”
Athletes from 64 teams from prep and primary, through high schools, tertiary institutions and clubs, as well as a number of individual athletes who are competing unattached will participate at the meet.
Jamaica College and St Jago High schools will make a return to the Western Relays after long absences, and will battle with Kingston College, Edwin Allen High and Holmwood Technical among the high schools. But a number of schools such as St Elizabeth Technical, Hydel High and Rusea’s High will not take part.
In the institutions and clubs section, G C Foster, Sprintec, MVP TC, UTech and UWI-Mona will renew rivalries.
Harvey said the move from Montego Bay resulted in the absence of some schools, including a number in the prep and primary, but said new teams would take their places.
Among the new schools down to take part are Belmont Academy, Bridgeport High, Jonathan Grant High, McGrath High, St Mary High and Enid Bennett High (Bog Walk).
— Paul Reid