Gibson McCook Relays will be hot

TRACK and field fans are in for a treat today at the 39th staging of the Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium.

The prestigious meet will get under way at 9:30 a.m. with the heats of the high-school boys' 4x400 metres Relays. The first track final, the men's mile, will be run at 4:15 p.m. with the final event, the high-school boys' 4x400m, set for 8:48 p.m.

With the upcoming Inter-secondary School Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships expected to be one of the closest for years in both sections, a lot of fireworks is expected as teams seek psychological advantages going into next month's meet.

Competition among athletes from clubs and institutions will also share the spotlight with high-school teams.

Undoubtedly one of the most popular relay meets in the world, another bumper crowd is expected and with some 10 championships events down to be contested it should be sizzling and fierce action all day.

epic battles expected

The 10 championship events are: Class One Girls 4x100 metres relay, Class Two girls' 4x100m, 4x400m high school girls' open, 4x800m high school girls' open, Class One boys 4x100m, Class Two boys 4x100m, high school boys 4x400m open, high school boys 4x800m open, 4x100m men's institution and 4x400m men's institution. The Class Two boys and girls 4x100m are new additions to the list this year. Winners of these events will be presented with commemorative Gibson McCook Relays watches.

Among the championships events, both high school male and female 4x400m and the boys 4x800m should attract a lot of attention as epic battles are expected.

Among the girls, St Jago, Holmwood, Vere Technical and Edwin Allen are expected to fight out the finish.

It could be St Jago's best performance at the meet for many years. The girls' team is very strong as they could walk away with as many as five wins.

Kingston College who clocked 3:10.95 at Milo Western Relays are not expected to compete in the boys' 4x400m. This opens the door for defending champions Calabar High who broke the record last year after running 3:07.00. They, along with St Jago and St Elizabeth Technical, should have a battle royal. St Jago with Martin Manley, Ivan Henry and Nathon Allen among their quartet, are given the edge but the defending champion, with Michael O'Hara, Anthony Carpenter and Class Two sensation Christopher Taylor could repeat.

In the boys 4x800m, Kingston College will be aiming to avenge their defeat at the Milo Western Relays by St Elizabeth Technical where they were in the event up to the final 50 metres before outstanding Class Two athlete, Jauvaney James, sprinted away from Chad Miller to win in 7:45.18, ahead of KC's 7:47.04.

KC have improve since that run. At the S.W. Isaac Henry meet inside the National Stadium a week ago they included form runner Twayne Crooks and scored an impressive win over G.C. Foster College clocking a very fast 7: 35.99. It will be interesting to see if they can repeat that run today.