Richard Bryan, Freelance Reporter

With Saturday's Jamaica College meet setting the pace for a hectic and significant track and field season, the year's second meet will be hosted by Windalco at Kirkvine next Saturday, in association with the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) and national sponsor, Puma.

Chief meet organiser, Patrick Anderson, said all that was needed now was for all entries, which are also tied to the provision of subsidised lunches by Windalco, to be completed by noon on Wednesday.

Of significance, the meet organisers will exclude competition in the 100 metres this year, given the predominantly high amount of entries which have been blamed for the extension of the meet well past nightfall.

Eligible entries

Entries will be facilitated from Classes one to four for 200m, 400m and 800m. In addition, there is the 3,000 Open event for females and 5,000 for males. The distance medley has been added as a qualifier for the Penn Relays.

The meet will celebrate its 27th year, having existed since 1982 when it was then called the Manchester Amateur Athletics Association meet. It grew to one of national prominence in 1986 when Alcan became sole sponsor and was switched from Manchester High to its current venue Kirkvine.

However, In 1993, it was earmarked a development meet under the auspices of the national body. Further development would see the addition of lights to facilitate nightfall and in 2001, the meet was renamed the JAAA/Puma Development meet, and subsequently became the second meet of the Jamaica athletic season.