Nestle increases sponsorship to Milo Western Champs

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer

Thursday, February 09, 2012

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Nestle Jamaica through its brand Milo yesterday announced an increase in the sponsorship of the County of Cornwall Athletics Association's (COCAA) Milo Western High Schools Championships that will be held over three days next week.

Karen Willis Mussington, consumer marketing manager for Nestle Jamaica, announced at yesterday's media launch and health expo at the Wexford Inn on Gloucester Avenue that the sponsorship has been increased from $1.2 million to $1.4 million.

The increase, she said, "underscored Nestle Jamaica's commitment to the development of talent in the island."

The "long-term investment in Western Champs", she went on to say, was a positive one as they "continued to witness the return on the investment by the performances on the world stage".

Eldemire Smith, a past president of COCAA who chaired the event, reminded those in attendance that many of the island's top athletes, including world champions Usain Bolt and Brigitte Foster Hylton, as well as Dexter Lee and reigning World Youth Championships 100m gold medallist Odail Todd, all started their careers at the Western Champs level before going on to dominate on the global stage.

The event will be held over three days with the eliminations for the girls being held at Herbert Morrison Technical next Tuesday; the boys' eliminations at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) next Thursday, with the finals being held at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Saturday, February 18.

Thirty-two boys schools led by defending champions Munro College and 30 girls schools led by defending champions STETHS had confirmed their participation as of yesterday's press launch with the closing date being a few hours later in the evening.

Among those confirmed to take part are three schools that were returning after periods of absence -- Westwood High School, Merlene Ottey High and Maggotty High.