Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
The 30th renewal of the Milo Western Relays, which will be staged at the unfinished Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay on Saturday, February 9, is being sponsored to the tune of a record $1 million, thanks to a $250,000 increase over last year's $750,000.
Speaking at yesterday's launch of the popular one-day championship in Montego Bay, Suzanne Wilson-Wong, Milo's category sales and development manager, said the increase in sponsorship is an indication that after 14-years, her company remained unwavering in it's commitment to the annual event.
"This event is an important platform in the development of our young athletes and that is what we are basically about," said Mrs. Wilson-Wong. "Our returns are coming through the performances of the athletes who are doing so well."
An elated meet director, Ray Harvey, said he was quite thrilled and promptly outlined a range of new incentives for the participants at the meet which is open to prep, primary and high schools, clubs and institutions, as well as one new top-flight attraction, the 'Big Races' - the 4x800m Open male and the 4x800n Open female.
"The top finishers in the Big Races will be handsomely rewarded and we believe this will be a special incentive for them to give of their best," said Harvey, who announced Dexter Lee, formerly of Herbert Morrison, and Bobbi-Gay Wilkins, of Holmwood Technical, as recipients of The Gleaner Award for last year's top male and female junior athletes.
Prizes: Big Race winner - $35,000; Big Race runner-up - $10,000; Big Race third place - $5,000; Most Outstanding Team - $25,000; Most Outstanding Male - $10,000; Most Outstanding Female Athlete - $10,000.
Harvey thanked the Urban Development Corporation for the important concessions that had been made to facilitate the staging of the relays.
"We have had to make a lot of adjustments to ensure the staging of the event and while we might not have record entries, we are confident that we will have a fabulous event," said Harvey.
Renown western Jamaica track official, Sefton Lawrence, whose involvement in sports spans various disciplines, will be the patron of this year's meet, which is slated to start at 10:00 a.m. and end at approx-imately 6:20 p.m.
