MONTEGO BAY, St James - The first road race in the Burger King/Jam Dammers series to be staged in Montego Bay will be contested this afternoon, starting at 3 o'clock.

Montego Bay was added to the series that has been increased from three to five races this season, with a number of the island's top road runners - including Bellefield schoolboy, Kemoy Campbell and Arieta Martin - expected to take part.

The event will be open to individuals and teams at the senior and junior levels.

Series director Alfred Francis told the Sunday Observer the race will start and end at the Burger King restaurant on Gloucester Avenue. The competitors will run along Howard Cooke Boulevard, turn right at the Freeport police station and continue towards Freeport before turning back and ending at the restaurant.

According to Francis, "The 10K provides an opportunity for a wide crossection of persons who comprise not only athletes, but also those who are pursuing their healthy lifestyle objective through running and walking."

He said the Grand Prix series "has got off to a good start" with the staging of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Caribbean Wellness 5K held on September 13. It is also attracting a large number of students who are so far dominating the series.

The series, which also sees an increase in sponsorship from $800,000 to $1.1million this year, started in September with the Caribbean Wellness Walk/Run 5K starting at the UDC Parking Lot West Street/Ocean Boulevard in Downtown Kingston.

It will continue with the Clarendon Crime Prevention 10k to be held in May Pen on October 26, the Holland Bamboo 5k to be staged in St Elizabeth on November 9, as well as the Burger King 10k in Portmore on November 19.

All races are scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm.

At the end of the series, points will be tallied to determine prize-winners in the various categories. Runners must participate in a minimum of three races to qualify for the prize purse.

Feeding the multitude

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