Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

WITH ATHLETES pushing for Champs qualifying marks, the 2007 Lucozade/G. C. Foster College meet set for Saturday is shaping up to be the biggest ever.

At yesterday's launch, which was held at the school, it was disclosed that close to 3,000 athletes - a 50 per cent increase on last year, had so far confirmed for the meet - dubbed 'Last Chance' for Champs.

All the top schools, Holmwood, Vere, Manchester, St. Jago, Edwin Allen girls, along with Kingston College (KC), Wolmer's, Jamaica College (JC), Calabar and St. Jago boys are expected to take part.

Lucozade's inaugural sponsorship is set to run to $800,000, and $350,000 of that was handed out at yesterday's launch.

Robeth Streete, consumer marketing manager at GlaxoSmithKline, the distributor of Lucozade Sports, said her company was happy to be a part of the event.

"GlaxoSmithKline, through our mega brand, Lucozade Sports, is very pleased to be the headline sponsor of this year's G. C. Foster Classic, which is also a primary qualifying event for the national Boys and Girls Championships," Streete said.

Full potential

"Lucozade Sports continues to support the development of our athletes and to help them realise their full potential. Our main objective is to provide a distinctive product range for our athletes that will assist in effective preparation, guaranteed endurance and ensure speedy recovery from rigorous training and competition," she said.

Street also told the audience that in order to assist in the development of world-class Caribbean athletes, her organisation would be partnering G. C. Foster College in several ways to achieve its mission.

"Lucozade Sports remains dedicated to improving sporting performance and enhancing the achievements of our local talent," she said.

Meet director Edwin Murray said the event was geared towards developing talent.

"We are committed to play our part in the development of Jamaican athletes," Murray said.

Entries closed yesterday and Murray said late entries would not be accepted.

The events are: 200m, 400m, 1500m, 70mH, 80mH, 100mH, 110mH, 400mH, 3000m, 5000m, 4x400m, high, long, triples jumps, discus, shot put and javelin.

anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com