Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Holmwood Technical's Omar Brown (left) sprints away from Camperdown's Remaldo Rose on the anchor leg of the boys' Class One4x100m relay at year's Gibson Relays. Holmwood won the event in 40.87 seconds ahead of Camperdown, 41.03. Both athletes and schools are expected to figure prominently inn the event at today's renewal of the relay carnival at the National Stadium. - File
THE BEST of Jamaica's track and field talent from preparatory, primary, high schools, colleges and clubs will be on show at the National Stadium today in the 30th staging of the Gibson Relays.
Billed as the leading relay carnival in the Caribbean, the relays are also expected to attract athletes from Barbados, Antigua and the Cayman Islands.
The eight Championships Relays which have on offer commemorative watches for the winners are the premier events of the meet. The Championship Relays are the Boys Class One, 4x100m, 4x400m open and 4x800m open.
The girls under-19 4x100m, 4x800m open and 4x400m open are also championship events. The remaining two Championships events are the 4x100m and 4x400m for men's institutions.
The meet has taken on greater significance this year as many top local-based athletes will use the carnival as part of their final preparations for the March 15-26 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.
In terms of quality the meet could be one of the best ever. For the first time a reigning world 100 metres record holder will grace the track during the Gibson Relays. Asafa Powell, who was crowned the world's fastest man with a 9.77 seconds clocking in Athens on July 14 last year, will be the feature attraction.
He runs for the MVP Track Club and will be joined by teammates Michael Frater, the 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist, Brigitte Foster-Hylton who was third in the 100m hurdles at the same World Championships and 2004 Olympics relay gold medallist Sherone Simpson.
RECORDS UNDER THREAT
The best from High Performance Training Centre (HPTC), led by world junior 200m record holder Usain Bolt and Jermaine Gonzales, the man rated as the best local-based 400m runner, will also be in action in the 4x400m.
The MVP Club is expected to sizzle in the 4x100m and the national record of 38.20 seconds could come under serious threat.
"MVP have three-quarters of the national team and one would expect them to dominate the 4x100m relay," HPTC coach, the legendary Glen Mills said earlier this week about a quartet which ran 38.87 at the recent Milo Western Relays.
Despite the seeming invincibility of the Stephen Francis-coached MVP, Maurice Wilson, coach of G.C. Foster College, said his team is coming to run.
"We are going to be competitive and will try to run faster than we did last year, although we are not as strong as MVP on paper," Wilson said.
A battle royal is expected among MVP, G.C. Foster and HPTC in the 4x400m. With Gonzales and Bolt in their squad HPTC appear to have the edge, but Powell, if he runs, could tilt the balance in favour of MVP.
At the Western Relays MVP led home G.C. Foster and HPTC.
The high school events will be dominated by Holmwood Technical. Holmwood Technical High will be seeking an unprecedented sweep of all six Championship relays.
The Maurice Wilson-coached girls are so strong they should have little difficulty in sweeping aside the opposition on all three relays. Their stiffest test could come in the 4x400m where Edwin Allen High have always done well.
Holmwood, however, will be well tested in the boys' events.
The Class One sprint relay will be worth going miles to see. The Edward Hector-coached Holmwood boys who won last year will be severely tested by Camperdown and Kingston College.
Camperdown are red-hot and with World Junior bronze medallist Remaldo Rose in their squad will be hard to beat.
"We expect a good competitive race," Camperdown's coach Jermaine Shand said in mid-week. "Holmwood are doing well and KC have a good team."
PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE
KC and Wolmer's will be strong in the 4x400m although Holmwood with Kerone Robinson, Romel Lewis, Mickel Downer and Stafford McFarlane will be the team to beat. KC hold the psychological advantage after clocking a season's best 3:15.56 to beat Holmwood (3:16.19) and Mannings (3:16.70) at the Western Relays.
The lower classes in the high school, prep and primary events should be far more competitive and the honours will be shared.
In the high school boys events Calabar, KC, Wolmer's and Jamaica College will be among the winners. In the lower classes for girls Edwin Allen High, St. Jago, Manchester High, Immaculate High, Vere Technical and St. Andrew High are all expected to do very well. Action starts at 9:30 a.m.
