Top rural 10K on in Manchester

Richard Bryan, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Manchester's most prominent sporting event - the High Mountain 10K road race - takes centre stage today in Williamsfield, its traditional home for the last 30 years.

The event is a tremendous crowd-puller and a favourite family outing here. The route takes athletes halfway up the Winston Jones Highway, then turning right and encircling Kendal and Shooters Hill roundabout before making headway past Windalco alumina plant and finally ending at the original Williamsfield roundabout.

Today's event is actually the 28th staging, and when The Gleaner contacted Meet Director Maurice Westney yesterday, he was happy to report, "We're looking all set getting all the logistics done on the ground so when we start tomorrow it will be all systems go."

Sponsorship has been, boosted by the involvement of Lucozade and Power Services who provided $750,000 each. This is in addition to main sponsor Jamaican Standard Products Limited, which has its main office in Williamsfield.

While the outstanding Kemoy Campbell and Natoya Goule, the respective male and female champions, will be absent having attained overseas scholarships last year, Westney expects a strong field.

American Edmund Burke, a two-time winner who has grown to be one of the meet's most consistent performers, will headline the overseas contingent. However, the real competition will be among local circuit road-runners and high school representatives. Rupert Green and Kirk Brown are among the anticipated top performers, while Stacy Bell and Arita Martin will carry the torch for the females. The day's schedule also includes a 5K race for younger, teenage athletes.

Entries close today at noon.