Burger King’s 2022 staging of its annual 5K Run and Relays will see $740,000 being awarded in cash prizes on Sunday’s staging, it was announced at the launch ceremony at Oakton Plaza (Limelight), Kingston, recently

The 2022 staging would be the first since October 2019, having been on pause due to COVID-19.

Outlining the prize package for this year’s meet, Sabrena McDonald Radcliffe, head of sales and marketing, RAL, said that in addition to $540,000 in cash and prizes for individual and team top placements in the 5K Run and the Relays, the top overall male and female high school relay school teams will each receive $100,000, when the points are tallied.

The top-20 relay teams can earn between 21 points for placing first and one point for placing 20th.

“With this being one of the first meets of the track season, Burger King wanted to cement its commitment to nation-building and youth development through sports by fuelling the school teams with much-needed assistance.”

She also shared that Burger King is also providing support to the Lady Crocs, Jamaica’s female rugby team.

Guest speaker at the launch ceremony, state minister Alando Terrelonge, said: “This is the kind of fair play and equality we would like to see in Jamaica. Too many times our female teams have to beg for the scraps from the corporate world because until they get to the elite stage no one comes running. I salute Burger King for recognising the value of gender equality in sports.”

Burger King 5K meet endorser Natoya Goule, Olympian and 800m national record holder, said: “The BK 5k and Relays are good fun and you also get a chance to win money for your school, plus the delicious burgers we all enjoy after the meet is a plus. But most importantly, it helped build me up for sprinting. I encourage you all to compete. Remember, the race is not only for the swiftest but for those who endure to the end.”

The Burger King 5K Run and Relays, one of Jamaica’s longest-running distance events, promotes healthy lifestyle through competitive distance running. Starting in 2000, it is the original ‘road race’ home for student athletes as well as professional and amateur distance running athletes

The race, which will begin and end at the Burger King Portmore Mall, is high on the running calendar of many high school athletes, track clubs and corporate teams. Race start time is 6:30 am.

Post-race activities will include giveaways, dance-offs and other competitions, hosted by popular media personality “The Energizer Bunny”, Jenny Jenny.