Shericka, big guns to make 60-metre bow at Fuller-Anderson

THE LOCAL track and field calendar will continue this Saturday with the 41st staging of the JAAA PUMA Fuller-Anderson Development Meet at G.C. Foster College, starting at 9 p.m.

The meet is being held at G.C. Foster College for the second time, the first taking place in 2021. It is also another chance to qualify for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships in March.

Just as important, though, the meet, for the first time, will include the 60 metres and 60-metre hurdles for senior male and female athletes. Also for the first time, there will be long jump for high-school athletes in all classes.

According to meet organiser Maurice Wilson, the short sprints have been introduced to the meet because of the World Indoor Championships to be held in March in Glasgow.

“This is an opportunity for our senior athletes to test themselves before the World Indoor Championships,” said Wilson.

World Championships 200-metre gold medallist, Shericka Jackson, the fastest woman alive over the half-lap event with her 21.41-second clocking in Budapest last year, will headline the women to contest the event, which begins at 11 00 a.m.

MVP COMPETING ATHLETES

Jackson’s MVP teammates, Tia and Tina Clayton, Serena Cole, Natasha Morrison, Jonelle Smith, Anthonique Strachan, Remona Burchell, and Sprintec’s Jodean Williams are also down to compete.

MVP will also be well represented among the men with Tajay Gayle, Kishane Thompson, and Rohan Watson set to hurtle down the track in the shortest of sprints.

Others down to compete include Michael Sharpe, Odaine McPherson, and Jevaughn Whyte of SprinTec.

Wilson apologised to coaches and athletes for the meet being forced away from Kirkvine.

“The organising committee was not able to get the facilities at Kirkvine Sports Club in time for the hosting of the meet. The organisers apologise to our athletes and coaches who normally look forward to travelling to the beautiful parish of Manchester and participating on a very good grass track,” said Wilson.

Chester McCarthy, a long-serving member of the organising committee and the person in charge of logistics, along with Nickeisha Edwards-Ingram of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association will be honoured at the meet.

Edwin Allen High School, following outstanding performances at last Saturday’s PURE Water/JC/R Danny Williams Development meet, will be in attendance.

Holmwood Technical High School and St Jago High School, who were absent from last Saturday’s meets at Jamaica College, as well as Excelsior, will headline the female teams. Kingston College and St Jago will be the top male teams in attendance.