'Legendary' trio to be honoured at track meets today

Dania Bogle

Saturday, February 04, 2012

THREE outstanding names in local track and field — Dr Patrick Robinson, Rupert Hoilett and Howard Aris — will be honoured today at two major meets on the local athletics calendar.

At the JAAA/PUMA Development Meet at Jamalco in Clarendon, Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games alum Dr Patrick Robinson and Rupert Hoilett will be the honourees, while late president of the JAAA, Howard Aris, will receive a remembrance citation at the Gatorade Youngster Goldsmith National Athletic Classics at GC Foster College in St Catherine.

Robinson competed in the 4x400m relay, while Hoilett competed in the 400m at the Tokyo Games which was the first Olympics in which Jamaica competed as an independent nation.

Track and field administrator Ray Harvey and late track and field official Delroy 'Zuggu' Francis will get special recognition at the PUMA Development Meet for their contribution to athletics.

Francis served as an official starter at most weekly meets across the island until his sudden death early last year.

At Jamalco over 30 schools from the parishes of Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Catherine and Clarendon will compete in the 400m, 200m, 1500m and 4x800m.

"Last year we had over 1,200 (athletes), so we expect maybe the same or little more," meet organiser, Neville Myton, said.

The top three teams in both the 4x800m male and female events will receive cash awards of $20,000, $12,000, and $8,000.

Close to 2000 athletes from 39 schools have signalled their intention to compete at the Youngster Goldsmith meet, including host school Kingston College. They will be joined by several other top high school powerhouses like Jamaica College, Calabar, Camperdown, Holmwood, Edwin Allen and Herbert Morrison.

In addition to all hurdles, throwing and jumping events, the line-up for the meet will include the 100m, 400m, 1,500m and 2,000m Steeplechase and distance medley.

The hurdles will feature heats and finals for all races, while the other events will be timed finals.

The distance medley will feature legs of 1,200m, 400m, 800m, and 1,600m and was added by special request from schools wishing to qualify for this April's Penn Relays in Philadelphia.