Jamaica’s largest relay carnival has had a name change as one of the founding fathers of the event, Neville “Teddy” McCook will be posthumously honoured by having his name added to the title. Formerly known as the Gibson Relays and named after the founder of Kingston College, the international relay championships will now be called the Gibson-McCook Relays and will be held on Saturday February 28th at the National Stadium in Kingston Jamaica.
The 2014 edition of the relays had its largest spectator turnout in years with 18,000 people coming through the turnstiles and will have CVM TV as it title sponsors once again, along with PUMA and Wisynco through their brands, WATA, Powerade and Busta, as the other main sponsors.
PUMA has made the decision to undertake the cost of having a bust made in the likeness of Mr. McCook and this is to be commissioned soon.
The success of the event allowed the organizers to donate $3 million to schools last year and the intension is to be able to do the same or even better this year.
Two events, the Class 2, Boys and Girls 4x100m, have been upgraded to championship events which brings to 10 the number of championship events. The winners will receive commemorative watches as well as medals. For the first time, second and third place teams will receive, silver and bronze medals respectively.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Professor Rainford Wilks, praised the volunteers who worked at the meet year in year out for their services.
“Volunteerism is the foundation of events like these and we thank all our volunteers for their efforts over the years.”
The Howard Aries lecture will precede the Relays and will take place at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology on February 25th beginning at 6:00pm. Stephen Francis, head coach of the MVP Track Club, will be the lecturer this year.
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