JAAA/SDF Jubilee Series back on track today
The second in the four Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Sports Development Foundation (SDF) Jubilee Series takes place today at the National Stadium in Kingston starting a 5:05 pm.
The World Athletics Continental Tour Challenge Series event, which is the brainchild of the JAAA, is designed to give local-based athletes the opportunity to experience high-intensity competition as well as earn prize money while doing so.
Three events for women and three events for men will attract prize money.
For the women, money will be earned on the track, while for the men, it will be earned both on the track and in the field.
The top five women in the 100m, 200m, 400m will all earn, while for the men, the top five in the 100m, 400m, and discus will all earn prize money once they meet the minimum standard set by the organisers.
Prize money, which will be paid in Jamaican dollars, are $90,000 for first place, $45,000 for second, $30,000 for third, $20,000 for fourth, and $15,000 for fifth. A total of $1.2 million will be paid out for the six events.
The events to be contested this weekend are the 100m for men and women, with a maximum of six heats. This is the only event that will have finals and will be the event to close the show with an A and B finals.
There will also be the 200m for men and women, the 400m for men and women, the 400m hurdles for men and women, the 100m hurdles for women, and the 110m hurdles for men.
In the field there will be the long jump for men, the long jump for women, and the discus for men and women as well. The long jump will be for four rounds only, instead of the usual six.
Speaking at the press briefing on Wednesday, Ludlow Watts, the treasurer for the JAAA, noted that, even though a number of non-Jamaicans are expected to participate at the event, prize monies would be paid to Jamaican nationals only.
He noted, however, that the organisers do appreciate the international flavour that the overseas athletes bring to the Jubilee Series and suggested that there may be a change in the later staging of the series to include them in the prize money.
Watts thanked the sponsors who contributed funding for the event, including the SDF and Puma and Jacden, who is outfitting the meet office.
The meet is expected to end at 7:00 pm with the men’s 100m final.