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MoBay City Run seeks more $$ for students

Published:Wednesday | March 9, 2016 | 5:02 PMPaul Clarke
Paul Clarke
Patrick Prendergast (right), acting director, UWI Western Jamaica campus, presents Courts’ Jacqueline Edwards-Locke, marketing manager at Courts Unicomer, with an award for their support at Tuesday’s launch of the 2016 Montego Bay City Run/Walk at Holiday Inn Resort in St James.

WESTERN BUREAU:

Organisers are looking at participation in this year's MoBay City Run/Walk races to top 4,000. The event last year drew almost 3,000 runners and raised approximately $3 million in the process.

"We are doing our best to see how much we can, but we are realistically looking at about $5 million this year," said chief organiser, Janet Silvera.

The event is held to raise funds for assisting students in defraying costs at tertiary institutions.

Four institutions will benefit directly from proceeds of the MoBay City Run - the University of the West Indies and University of Technology (western campuses), Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, and Montego Bay Community College.

The event, which consist of a 5K Run/Walk and a 10K Run, had its launch on Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Resort and indications are that this year's renewal will be much bigger and better for the runners.

RACE ROUTE

The race will get under way on Sunday, May 1 in the vicinity of the Old Hospital Park in Montego Bay and will take the runners and walkers through the city and back to the starting line, where the race will end.

Two-time men's winner, Ronique Williams, will be back defending his title, as will female champion Arieta Martin.

Williams have made the MoBay City Run his own, winning the overall title in the event's inaugural staging in 2014, and return with a bang last year to defend his title, when he completed the race in 36 minutes and 17 seconds. He is among the favourites again this year.

Martin took the female first place medal and trophy in a time of 47 minutes and 10 seconds and could repeat as champion.

However, with an expected increase in overseas participation, especially among the female runners, Martin will be hard pressed to hold on to her crown.

In preparation for the event, organisers have maintained the fitness camp, which will run from March 12 at the Old Hospital Park, on Gloucester Avenue.

The team section was one of the most exciting aspects of the City Run last year and will again be a spectacle of colours. Riu Hotel won the team trophy by sending a huge contingent of 521 members in 2015.

Scotiabank, FLOW and the Royalton Hotel will feature again this year with big contingents also.