Milo serves up $750,000 for prep/primary swim champs

Nestle/Milo will serve up a whopping $750,000 sponsorship and other incentives at the 19th renewal of an eagerly anticipated Milo Prep/Primary Schools Swimming Championships slated for June 3- 4, at the National Aquatics Centre.

The event was launched at the same venue on Wednesday.

The annual championship serves as a major development meet for children not involved in club competitive swimming at the prep and primary school level, between ages four and 12.

More than 200 swimmers will compete for the respective honours and prizes this year.

Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) president, Handel Lamey, praised NestlÈ for its 19 years of sponsorship.

"I am very very pleased that Milo has increased their sponsorship, it's a tremendous boost to swimming in Jamaica, because it is very expensive to host a meet like this over a two-day period, so this sponsorship is very significant and we want corporate Jamaica to come on board and to really give back to the sport," Lamey told The Gleaner.

According to Lamey, he has no doubt outstanding swimmers like Zaneta Alveranga of St Hugh's Prep who said the prayer on Wednesday, Zacharay Jackson-Blaine from Creative Kids Learning Academy who gave the vote of thanks and Christanya Shirley of Wolmer's Prep will several records at the meet.

John Sinclair delivered the meet overview yesterday, tipping the event to be one of their 'most exciting and competitive.'

The reigning Champion Schools are Wolmer's Prep in the boys' category and Immaculate Preparatory for girls while Excelsior are the Champion Primary school.

Director of Sports in the Ministry of Culture and Sports Florette Blackwood lauded the efforts of Nestle/Milo for being "good corporate citizens and for their stewardship in the development of the sport of swimming."

Marketing manager of Milo, Ockino Petrie, said besides their $750,000 sponsorship they are introducing a $100,000 incentive to make his company's 19th year as sponsors a memorable one.