<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Top stars for 29th Milo Western Relays</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Thursday, February 01, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>MONTEGO BAY - Expectations are high for next Saturday's 29th Milo Western Relays at Catherine Hall as athletes vie for places on Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Kenneth Dodd, consumer marketing manager for Nestle Jamaica, said the expectations are for the meet, the biggest outside of Kingston, to exceed the high standards set in previous years.
At yesterday's press launch at the Jamaica Grandiosa Resort, he announced a 40 per cent increase in sponsorship from $500,000 to $700,000 as part of the overall $4 million the company will be spending on the event.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Dodd said Nestle was committed to nation-building and they had already started seeing returns with the high level that the athletes have been performing at.
The organisers made $200,000 scholarship donations to former Holmwood Technical quarter-miler Sonita Sutherland, who is now attending GC Foster College, and Mt Alvernia's coach Andrew Henry, who is also attending the institution.
In addition to cash awards for the outstanding male and female teams and athletes, the organisers have added a new category, outstanding Western Champs team, which will also receive a cash award.
National Junior 400m hurdles record-holder and World Junior gold medallist Kaleise Spencer, and St Jago sprinter Yohan Blake, will receive the Gleaner Youth Link Award for outstanding performances last year, while veteran track administrator Headley Forbes will be the patron.
The Stephen Francis-coached MVP Track Club, led by world 100m record-holder Asafa Powell and 2006 world's fastest woman, Sherone Simpson, will also attend the meet.
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Thursday, February 01, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>MONTEGO BAY - Expectations are high for next Saturday's 29th Milo Western Relays at Catherine Hall as athletes vie for places on Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Kenneth Dodd, consumer marketing manager for Nestle Jamaica, said the expectations are for the meet, the biggest outside of Kingston, to exceed the high standards set in previous years.
At yesterday's press launch at the Jamaica Grandiosa Resort, he announced a 40 per cent increase in sponsorship from $500,000 to $700,000 as part of the overall $4 million the company will be spending on the event.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Dodd said Nestle was committed to nation-building and they had already started seeing returns with the high level that the athletes have been performing at.
The organisers made $200,000 scholarship donations to former Holmwood Technical quarter-miler Sonita Sutherland, who is now attending GC Foster College, and Mt Alvernia's coach Andrew Henry, who is also attending the institution.
In addition to cash awards for the outstanding male and female teams and athletes, the organisers have added a new category, outstanding Western Champs team, which will also receive a cash award.
National Junior 400m hurdles record-holder and World Junior gold medallist Kaleise Spencer, and St Jago sprinter Yohan Blake, will receive the Gleaner Youth Link Award for outstanding performances last year, while veteran track administrator Headley Forbes will be the patron.
The Stephen Francis-coached MVP Track Club, led by world 100m record-holder Asafa Powell and 2006 world's fastest woman, Sherone Simpson, will also attend the meet.
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