THE first track and field meeting of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) calendar year 2013 — the Wata/JC Track & Field Development Meet will take place at the school's 189 Old Hope Road base on Saturday, January 5 starting at 8:30 am.

The 20th year of the event, which is a qualifying meet for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys & Girls Athletic Championships, has been dubbed "the meet with a difference" and organisers have said they are anxious that the Wata/JC meet maintains its established image of being a well-organised and well-run meet.

Teams from all schools, clubs, and institutions may enter in one of two team categories or as an unattached competitor.

The age groups will be Under-19, Under-16, and Under-14 boys Classes One-Three and Under-19, Under-17, and Under-13 girls Classes One-Four.

Events on offer will be 100m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m (female) and 5,000m (male), 70m, 80m, 100m and 110m hurdles and long and high jumps, discus, shot put, and pole vault. Only four competitors per class per team per event will be allowed.

Ten individual trophies will be awarded to the most outstanding athletes at the meet.

The honoree this year will be Jamaica College old boy Michael Bernard. Bernard is a former Sunlight Cup Cricket standout and National Youth Cricket representative and has served as board chairman since January 2010.

During his tenure Bernard has continued to lead the transformation of Jamaica College. His indelible mark can be seen in the physical appearance of the school and in the quality of all its endeavours.

His support was also instrumental in contributing to the school winning every schoolboy football title on offer except the Under-16 Colts title and winning the triple crown — Manning Cup, Walker Cup and Olivier Shield, as well as the Under-14 urban and all-island titles in 2010, as well as the Boys' Athletic Championships Track and Field title in 2011.