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Spotlight on Purewater/JC meet as 2016 track season begins

Published:Friday | January 8, 2016 | 7:07 PMRaymond Graham
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Rohan Ferguson (left), a member of Jamaica College’s coaching staff, congratulating Paketo Dudley after he won last year’s Class Two long jump. Looking on at centre is Andrew McRae, a member of the school’s management team. McRae, a past student of the school, will be honoured at today’s meet.

The 2016 series of local development meets kicks off today with the staging of two development meets on the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) calendar.

In the Corporate Area, Jamaica College will host the 23rd staging of the Purewater/JC Invitational meet on the school's grounds, Old Hope Road starting at 8:30 a.m.

Out west at the Herbert Morrison High School First Chance meet gets under way at 9 a.m.

Most attention will focus on a well supported JC meet. The is a qualifier for the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships and athletes will be taking the opportunity to meet qualifying standards early. Meet director, Ian Forbes is very pleased with the support and is anticipating great competition.

"More than 1500 athletes have entered and we expect high quality performances as this is an Olympic and World Junior Championships year," Forbes said.

He said entries have come in from all the top high school male and female teams. There will also be events for senior athletes from clubs and institutions.

Several high schools have recruited new athletes during last summer and fans will get a chance to see who some of these athletes in action.

Among the females are Janelle Fullerton and Rushelle Burton. Fullerton, who did well in the throws for Edwin Allen High last year, has moved to sixth form at St Jago High, while sprint hurdler Burton, formerly of St. Andrew High, has joined up with her former coach, Leacroft Bolt at Camperdown High School.

SETTODETHRONECHAMPS

Jamaica College's team will be closely watched as there are early whispers that they could be the team to dethrone defending champions Calabar at Champs this year. They have great depth in the field events with outstanding jumpers Obrien Wasome, Clayton Brown and Paketo Dudley among the likely leading performers.

Top thrower, Vashon McCarthy, is also now eligible to represent the school after sitting out a full year after exiting Ascot High last year.

Action will begin with the 3000m for girls. This will be followed by the boys' 5000m. Other track events are the 100m, 800m and all sprint hurdles. In the field the events down to be contested are the long, high, and triple jumps along with the discus, shot put and pole vault.