Ricky Martin, chief organiser of the Corporate Area Athletics Championships, says all systems are in place for the February 17-18 meet at Richard Ashenheim Stadium located on the grounds of Jamaica College (JC).

Martin confirmed the participation of all top Corporate Area schools for this year’s championships, with Kingston College aiming to retain their boys’ title and Excelsior High looking to defend the girls’ crown.

“The preparations for this year’s championships have been going very well because all top Corporate Area schools will be there, and so we are expecting a very entertaining event. We are just waiting for the day to come,” he said.

“Corporate Area [Champs] is one of the best-run development meets in Jamaica and will start on time each day. Spectators can come out and expect some great competition each day because there will be trophies at stake this year for the first-, second-, and third-place teams,” Martin added.

He said the boys’ trophy is named after Dave Myrie, the principal of Kingston College, and the female trophy is named after veteran educator Dr Carol Long.

Martin said the boys’ and girls’ winners will each receive $150,000, while the runners-up schools will each get $100,000, and third-placed teams will both walk away with $50,000.

“The meet will be shown live for the days on
SportsMax TV, and the exciting 100-metre finals for boys and girls in all classes will be contested on Friday evening at the championships. We are hoping for good wind because I am expecting excellent times in all classes,” Martin asserted.

He explained that the meet, staged at the Ashenheim Stadium for the first time, was originally scheduled for the National Stadium; however, due to its unavailability, they switched to the JC venue.

“The Richard Ashenheim Stadium, located at Jamaica College, is a good venue, but we were hoping to get the National Stadium. However, the powers that be decided otherwise, so we had to move along and have it at JC,” he said.

“The meet has to happen because we will be putting on a good show, and spectators should come out and enjoy the meet over these two days,” Martin said.

— Robert Bailey