SVL bets on highly anticipated trials... Commits $9.3m to JAAA's 2011 programme

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

For the eighth consecutive year, Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) is on board in a big way with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), with their sponsorship of the 2011 Track and Field programme to the tune of $9.3m.

The gaming company's injection into this year's programme, which reflects a $6m increase over last year, will assist with the staging of the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Junior (11-12) and Senior Championships (June 23-26). Both meets will be staged at the National Stadium.

SVL , which will be celebrating their 10th anniversary on June 25th, through their president and CEO, Brian George, expressed pleasure with once again partnering with the JAAA.

"The SVL team is proud to renew its title sponsorship of the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Junior and Senior Championships for the eighth consecutive year," George said, while at a press conference held yesterday at the Acropolis, Barbican. "We look forward to good performances from all our athletes at these championships, which we anticipate will be keenly contested to ensure that Jamaica has a strong contingent at the World Youth and Senior Championships this summer," he added.

The junior championship will be used to select Jamaica's teams to the IAAF World Youth Championships in France and the Junior Pan-American Games in Florida, while the senior championship will be used to determine the majority of the team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

This year's JAAA/SVL National Senior Championships will be staged over four days, as opposed to the customary three, this according to chairman of the meet's organising committee, Ludlow Watts, who reflected on the level of competitiveness in local athletics.

presenting the best

"Our athletes have been performing so well in recent years, and this year in particular, there have been nine (male) athletes ... who have gone below 10 seconds in the 100m, and many of them are on the periphery of achieving that milestone," Watts highlighted. "With the quality of the athletes and the rounds that will be required, we will no longer be able to accommodate the meet in three days, because our aim is to ensure that the best athletes represent Jamaica," he added.

The quantity of athletes down to compete has also forced a change in the number of rounds that will be run for the 200m. The women will be required to run three rounds in the 100m, up from two last year, while the men will be required to run four rounds, as opposed to the three rounds they ran last year.

Howard Aris, president of the JAAA, also anticipates a very keenly contested championship.

"As our athletes continue to 'burn' up the track globally, we are expecting a very competitive yet exciting championship as they vie for selection to represent Jamaica at this summer's IAAF World Youth and Senior Athletics Championships, respectively," Aris stated.