Reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson is set to make her seasonal debut on Saturday at the 41st staging of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Puma/Fuller-Anderson development meet at G C Foster College.

The highly-anticipated meet, scheduled to start at 9:00 am, will also serve as a qualifier for the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, set for March 19-23 at the National Stadium.

Jackson, the fastest woman alive in the 200m event with a time of 21.41 seconds, is to compete in the 60m event. She is expected to line up alongside her MVP Track Club teammates Natasha Morrison, Jonelle Smith, Anthonique Strachan, Janieve Russell, Sada Williams, Amoi Brown, Tia and Tina Clayton, and Serena Cole. Remona Burchell and Jodean Williams, both of Sprintec Track Club, are also slated to compete in the event.

In the men’s equivalent, Kishane Thompson, Rohan Watson, and Tajay Gayle, all of MVP, are set to compete in the 60m event. Michael Sharpe of G C Foster College and Javeen Newby of Motorcade are also scheduled to contest the event. The meet will feature the 60m hurdles and long jump for both boys and girls, a new addition to the competition.

Chester McCarthy, a member of the organising committee, along with Nickeisha Edwards-Ingram of the JAAA, will be this year’s honorees at the meet.

Maurice Wilson, chief organiser of the meet and principal of G C Foster College, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s continuation, emphasising its significance on the Jamaica track and field calendar.

“This year is the 41st staging of one of the longest-serving meets in Jamaica, and if not one of the longest meets that does not have relay events. We are extremely happy that we were able to continue with the hosting of the meet,” said Wilson.

“This meet really represents two great Jamaicans, Charlie Fuller and Pat Anderson, who were instrumental in assisting track and field in Central Jamaica, assisting numerous schools such as Vere Technical, Holmwood, Manchester and Edwin Allen in terms of building their track programmes and so we feel it fit to honour these men,” he said.

Wilson expressed his happiness that senior athletes like Shericka Jackson continue to support local meets, anticipating great performances from them in the upcoming event.

“It will be the first outing for most of these athletes but as usual these athletes are professional and consistent performers and so we expect great performances from them.

“But most importantly, I am extremely happy and honoured that a great athlete of the calibre of Shericka Jackson continues to support the local meets and so I am extremely happy for that and so we hope to make sure that it is worth the while in coming to the meet,” he stated.

On the high school girls’ side, Holmwood Technical, Manchester High, Edwin Allen High, will compete, while Excelsior High, Calabar High, St Jago High, and Kingston College will do battle in the boys’ category.