THE RIVALRY between Jamaica and the United States will continue on the track this summer.
On June 11, top high school athletes from Jamaica will travel to New York to face their American counterparts in the inaugural Island Games, dubbed 'The Great Summer Showdown'.
So far, 10 local schools - Boys' champions Kingston College (KC), Girls' Champs winners Holmwood, Calabar, Vere Technical, Camperdown, St. Jago, Wolmer's, Edwin Allen, St. Andrew and Man-chester have been invited to participate at the one-day event.
The meet is also open to colleges, clubs and other high schools, but they will have to receive the blessing of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA).
The schools will take part in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long, triple and high jumps while there will also be open and masters events.
Like Penn Relays, only select members/teams from these schools will make the trip as the organisers are looking at between 60-100 athletes from Jamaica and the same for the U.S.
Though athletes will compete for their schools, the points will be tabulated under Jamaica and the country with the most points will walk way with the Championships of the Americas trophy.
Patrick Payne, chief organiser, said the meet was designed to give Jamaicans opportunities. He also said the meet also dubbed 'Wi Run Tings' is a "to provide Jamaica with a bigger talk" in track and field circles.
Payne said he was working with Jamaica Olympian Vilma Charlton and IAAF area representative, Teddy McCooke, in selecting the athletes from the schools.
Apart from the meet, there will also be a weekend of activities which will involve a reception and party on Friday and a Jamaica family walkathon, dubbed 'Walking with the Greats', in honour of the 1964 Jamaican Olympians on Saturday.
According to Payne, funds raised from the walkathon would go towards former Olympians in need of assistance.
"These athletes served Jamaica so well and we have to come to their assistance. We are working out a plan with Blue Cross, which will announce after the walkathon," he said.
