Tue | Dec 24, 2024

4X100m relay championship for high schools back at Camperdown Classics

Published:Tuesday | January 30, 2024 | 12:09 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
Calabar High’s Michael Stephens (right) moves in to hand the baton to teammate Dejour Russell (second right) during the Class One boys’ 4x100m at the 2018 Camperdown Classics. Calabar won the event in 40.12 seconds.
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Calabar High’s Michael Stephens (right) moves in to hand the baton to teammate Dejour Russell (second right) during the Class One boys’ 4x100m at the 2018 Camperdown Classics. Calabar won the event in 40.12 seconds.

TOP HIGH school sprint relay teams will get a chance to compete for cash prizes at this year’s staging of the Camperdown Classics to be held at the National Stadium on Saturday, February 10, starting at 9 a.m.

The launch of the 19th staging of the meet was held at Camperdown High yesterday, and chairperson of the organising committee, Camille Allen-Walters, past student and school bursar, revealed some of the changes for this year’s meet.

“We have decided to reintroduce the 4x100m Championship relay for high school male and female teams and the invitational 60 metres for senior athletes. In addition, we have introduced the sprint medley relay, where teams can use the opportunity to qualify for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships,” Allen-Walters said.

The 4x100m relay was reintroduced with the Penn Relays in mind, and $100,000 will be shared among the top three teams, with first place getting $50,000, second $30,000, and third, $ 20,000. High school teams will also compete in the 100m, 800m, 4x100m in all classes and the 4x400m open. In the field, the events down to be contested are high jump and triple jump open. In addition to the 60m, senior athletes will also compete in the 400m.

Reggae Boyz defender Damion Lowe and basketballer Mugabe Thomas are the two past students who will be honoured at this year’s staging.

Lowe represented Camperdown in football and track and field. He competed in the long jump and the 4x100m in Class One.

Thomas was a member of the school’s basketball team, which was victorious in the ISSA schoolboys’ competition. He won both the Corporate Area and all-island titles with Camperdown before obtaining a full basketball scholarship to Cedarville University in the United States.

Former principal and a member of the organising committee, Cynthia Cooke, promised a fantastic day on February 10.

“We promise you a day filled with lots of excitement. We look forward to seeing you all there. We would like to thank our faithful sponsors and say welcome to those that are new,” Cooke said.

Sponsors of the meet include Adidas, Western Union, the Sports Development Foundation, Digicel, Stride Vision TV, Rainbow Awning, Sports Source Ltd, ADD Enterprise, Niche Financing, Agent Sasco, CASTAC, Overseas Group of Past Students, and Full Circle group of friends.

Entrance fees for the meet are $1,000 for adults and students with ID and children under 12 - $500. Entries will close on February 1. Registration fee will be $17,000 for co-ed teams, $12,000 for single-sex teams, and $1,500 for individuals.