Burger King 5K and Relay expected to be biggest of year

TODAY’S STAGING of the Burger King 5K and Relay in Portmore, beginning at 6:30 a.m., is expected to be the biggest road race so far this season.

Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, managing director of Running Events Jamaica and meet director of today’s event, is excited.

“Definitely, it will be the biggest road race event so far this season and with the large entries received, we expect a very exciting and competitive competition, especially amongst the high schools,” said Francis.

The increased interest for high schools along with community teams may come from a big increase in prize money. More than $1 million will be up for grabs.

Nadia Kiffin Green, head of sales and marketing, Restaurants Associates Limited, made the announcement at a media launch earlier about the incentives to be given out at the meet.

A cash prize of $400,000 will be going to the top team (the team with the highest number of entrants that complete the 5K Run/Walk within 35 minutes).

In the 5K, high school teams will also vie for the Lois Sherwood Trophy, which will be awarded to the team with a minimum of seven members, with the fastest five members scoring.

Another exciting event should be the 4 X 1500-metre relays where defending champions Jamaica College, who also dominated the 5K last year, will be coming all out to defend their title.

However, they will be hard pressed by rivals, Kingston College, with their strong cadre of middle and long distance athletes.

Besides cash prizes, medals and trophies will be handed out with the top three individual male and female in the 5K walk and run rewarded.

Other sponsors of today’s meet include Rainforest Caribbean, Soccer Xpress, Sun City, Arosa, WATA, and Powerade.