Record 1,300 entries for 100m at Camperdown Classics - Former principal and founder Cynthia Cooke will be honouree at 20th staging

Stretching back to the days when the likes of the legendary Don Quarrie, Leroy Reid and Raymond Stewart led the charge, Camperdown High School's track and field teams have been parading under the moniker, 'Sprint Factory'. So it is hardly surprising that a considerable number of participants on teams turning out to participate at a meet borne out of the east Kingston institution are looking to make their mark in the marquee sprint event, the 100 metres.

Saturday will be the 20th staging of the Camperdown Classics and along with the star quality of several top senior athletes, including World Championship 400m champion Antonio Watson, a record number, 1,300, yes, you read right, 1,300 runners have been entered for the 100 metres.

"We have received a record entry of 1,300 athletes for the 100 metres, which highlights the level of competition expected," shared Chairperson of the organising committee, Camille Allen-Walters, past student and bursar of Camperdown High School, as she shared details on the meet with STAR Sports.

"We are also pleased with the entry of some of the country's top senior athletes, including World 400m men's champion Watson, Oblique Seville from Racers Track Club, Malik James-King from Titans, and past student Roshawn Clarke from Swept Track Club, all of whom will make their season debut in the one-lap event," Allen-Walters shared.

Seville is one of the country's top male sprinters and one of two Jamaicans who competed in the 100m final at last summer's Paris Olympics in France. The other is Kishane Thompson, who was a marginal second after clocking the same time with American champion Noah Lyles in a dead heat.

The other athletes highlighted by Allen-Walters, James-King and Clarke, are top 400m hurdlers, with Clarke making the Paris Olympics final and James-King unfortunate to have stumbled after hitting the hurdle and losing his balance in the semis, which cost him a place in the final.

Sharing more on the Camperdown Classics, Allen-Walters said, "This is our 20th staging and it will be the biggest ever, with over 2,000 athletes from high schools, clubs and institutions competing."

She also noted that 30 high schools from rural Jamaica will participate.

The event will also feature Jevaughn Powell and Xavier Nairne of Racers, Demish Gaye and Zandrion Barnes of SprinTec, and Brian Levell of Optimum.

"As usual, we will honour one of our past students, and this year's honouree is former principal and founder of the meet, Cynthia Cooke," Allen-Walters informed.

The intense battle among high school teams this season is expected to continue, with top female team Hydel High and top male team Calabar High leading the charge.

It has been a riveting season so far for St Jago High's Class Three boys' team, and fans can look forward to outstanding performances from Rajaun Romelly and Javauney Findlay as they compete in their first 100m of the season.

Both are coming off exceptional 200m runs of 22.55s and 22.56s, respectively, at the Jamaica College meet last month. They will also be part of the school's dream 4x100m relay team, which is expected to set the track on 'fire'.

Track events will feature the 100m, 400m, and 800m, along with the 4x100m and 4x400m relays for high school teams. Senior athletes will contest the 60m and 400m events for both male and female.

And, for the first time, field events will include javelin, with the discus and high jump also down to be contested.

sports@gleanerjm.com