Stars to shine at MILO Western Relays

Photo: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will be among the athletes participating at the MILO Western Relays

This year’s MILO Western Relays has again attracted a large number of entries numbering almost one hundred.

Among the many track clubs and institutions will be stars from MVP, Sprint Tech, GC Foster College, UWI, Comets Track Club, Cameron Blazers.

MVP boasts world class athletes, Olympians and world champions as well as up-and-coming athletes. Some of the MVP athletes who will be on the track are Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kaliese Spencer, Nesta Carter, Stephanie-Ann McPherson, Christine Day, Carrie Russell and Jeneve Russell.

Two athletes who have not had a lot of track time in Jamaica in recent times at will be on the track on Saturday to delight the large crowd that is expected, are Sherone Simpson of Sprint Tech and Jermaine Gonzales of Cameron Blazers. Simpson’s event is not yet confirmed however Gonzales will be running his pet event, the 400M.

Simpson returned home in the last quarter of 2014 and is now training with Sprint Tech and coached by Maurice Wilson. Prior to that she migrated to the United States while waiting on the final judgment of her drug offence which was reduced to six month, down from eighteen months. Simpson is anxious to get back on the track at the Montego Bay Sports Complex where she competed on many occasions.

Gonzales is back on track and healthy according to his coach Bert Cameron. Cameron said that he did three surgeries since the 2012 Olympics in London where he broke down in the 4x400M relays. He said that Gonzales will run the 400M competitively for the first time since that time. He expects that Gonzales will do well and have a good year after that long lay-off.

KC won six relays and broke four records last year and is expected to take on all comers again, including St. Elizabeth Technical who they lost to in the final race of the event – the 4x400M for high school boys. Competition will also come from Munro College and Green Island among others such as Herbert Morrison.

On the girls side, Champs winner Edwin Allen, Holmwood, Hydel and other top girls schools will battle the events.

The Gleaner Junior awardees Odaine Lewis of Cornwall College will compete the Long Jump while Lamara Distin of Rusea’s will be doing the high Jump.

The primary and prep schools will also show their stuff after completing a clinic at the stadium on Tuesday which was used to introduce them to the use o f the track.

There will be twenty-two (22) flat events and thirty-one (31) relays while there are four (4) field events at this year’s MILO Western Relays. The flat events include all classes of hurdles including for seniors as well as the 100M and 400M for men and women, the 1500M for women and the 3000M for men. The relays cover all classes from primary to clubs and institutions. The relays are the 4x100M, 4×200, 4x400M, 4x800M and the sprint medley open. The field events are long jump and high jump.

The 37th staging of MILO® Western Relays will run off on Saturday February 14 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St. James at midday and will end under lights at 9:50 pm