St Jago PSA launches 5K

Ryon Jones, Sunday Gleaner Writer

In keeping with the school's rich history in track and field, St Jago High School's Past Students' Association launched their inaugural St Jago/John Leiba 5K walk/run event last Thursday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The event will be staged on Sunday, July 30 in Ocho Rios, commencing at 6:30 a.m.

The race is expected to feature a number of past St Jago and Jamaican athletic stars. The Spanish Town-based school, which is second only to Vere Technical in terms of student athletes who have gone on to become world champions, boast past students such as World and Olympic 400 metres champion Melaine Walker, World 400m champion Bert Cameron and World Indoor champions Juliet Campbell at 200m and Michelle Freeman in the 60m hurdles.

Meet Director Kevin Harris hopes that some of their past track and field greats will turn out for the race.

"We are looking at getting good support from our past students, including a number of overseas athletes," Harris stated while speaking at the press conference."We are trying to get some Kenyans to participate and we are also looking at getting our own St Jago group."

He added: "We have connections with Louisiana State University and we are trying to see if we can get a few of those athletes to come and help to boost the meet."

Registration open

Registration for the event is already open and interested persons can sign up on www.stjago.com/5k. Incentives are not only being offered to top performers on the day, but also to persons who sign up early.

"We are looking for a turnout in excess of 500 persons," Harris expressed. "What we have on offer in terms of incentives are small tokens that will be given out to the first 500 persons to register."

He added: "We will also be looking at some small tokens for the first 500 persons to cross the finish line along with the usual medals and awards for the individuals in the male and female categories as well as in the walks."

The event is named in honour of the school's track and field manager and long and middle-distance coach John Leiba, who helped rejuvenate St Jago's athletic programme during the 1980s and 1990s.

"I am humbled and I accept on behalf of all the coaches and past students who have helped me," Leiba expressed. "I think for middle distance to succeed in Jamaica you need to bring together the high-school athletes with the regular individuals," he added.

The event has on board sponsors in the form of the National Health Fund (NHF), Puma, Xsomo and Nuff Talk. The NHF are, however, the major sponsors with their investment of $500,000.