LATE president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Howard Aris, will receive a remembrance citation at this year’s 15th staging of the Gatorade Youngster Goldsmith National Athletic Classics to be held at the GC Foster College next Saturday.

Aris, who died suddenly last November, will be honoured in lieu of a meet patron as has been the tradition of the meet organisers in the past.

Aris was coach/manager, while Goldsmith was weights trainer of the Kingston College track and field team during the school’s successful 14-year reign as boys champions.

“As a sign of respect we decided not to have an honoree this year. We will (instead) be incorporating a Most Valuable Athlete award,” organising committee member, Raffic Shaw, told said.

Shaw added that a committee had been set up to establish the criteria for selection in a field event. “Because Mr Aris was a die-hard supporter of the field events and Youngster Goldsmith (meet) was set up around field events and this is why we have heats and finals in the sprint hurdles,” Shaw added.

He noted that the Youngster Goldsmith meet was also the only which features heats and finals for the hurdles races.

Shaw noted that the track events were established for schools which were not as skilled at field events.

The distance medley which will feature legs of 1,200m, 400m, 800m, and 1,600m has been added, while the Swedish and Medley Relays were removed from the programme of this year’s meet.

“Some teams have been asking for an opportunity to qualify for the Penn Relays while there is no World Youth Championships, so we removed the Swedish Relay and no other meet is offering the distance medley,” Shaw explained.

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.

According to organisers, three entrants per class per team for the hurdles and fields events are usually allowed, but in order to facilitate all on-track events entries will be regulated.

Only two athletes per class per team will be allowed for the 1,500m and the 2,000m Steeplechase, while teams participating in any hurdles event will be allowed only one athlete per class for the 400m.

Teams without hurdlers will be allowed no more than three athletes per class for the 400m.

Shaw stated that the co-operation of participants was vital in ensuring the running of a smooth, efficient and on time meet.