THE 20th staging of the Wesley Powell PA Benjamin over distance track and field meet is set to take place today at Excelsior High School on Mountain View Avenue.

The event, to start at 8:30 am, has garnered significant anticipation with over 1,100 entries according to David Riley, chief organiser of the meet.

“The feedback has been good because we have over 1,100 athletes entered. And the change in the order of events has altered the dynamics, with the 150-metre races scheduled later in the afternoon rather than early in the morning so that should be an interesting event as well,” Riley commented.

He highlighted the unique nature of the meet, emphasising its role as a training squad event, drawing participants eager for competition beyond their regular training routines.

“Athletes will be testing their skills at distances they typically train for, providing a valuable assessment of their readiness for the upcoming competition season.

“These are distances that they will be training at, and just to get competitive at those distances, and just to see where they are going into the competition season,” he said.

The slated events include the 150m, 300m, 600m, 1000m, and 3000m for females, along with the 5000m for males. Relay events, such as the 4x300m for high schools and a mixed 4x300m for primary schools, will also be contested. Field events will feature the long and high jumps, shot put, and an additional exhibition pole vault event.

Riley emphasised the significance of the newly added Class Four 600m event, designed to support younger athletes preparing for prep and primary school competitions. He said the aim is to assist the athletes in gearing up for longer distances such as the 800m at primary champs and the 400m at prep champs.