ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Organisers of the 46th Western Relays are optimistic there will be outstanding performances at Saturday’s event set to get underway at GC Foster Sports College.

Reporting pre-COVID-19 level of entries, the organisers said nearly 30 high schools led by national champions Kingston College and Edwin Allen High are down to take part in the event with three schools making a comeback — St Jago High, The Queens School and St Andrew High School.

Another 10 clubs and institutions have submitted entries as well and Ray Harvey, the meet director, welcomed the entries saying, “we were pleasantly surprised”.

Compared to last year’s entries, Harvey said, “We are well above that numbers, in terms of individuals and teams, from prep/primary, high schools and the clubs and institutions.”

He continued, “And we have had to insist on our limit of two entries per individual event, if we were to end the meet on time.”

Among the events down for competition, there will be competition in 60m, 100m, 400m and 800m, Open for both genders; 1500m Open for women and 3000m for men; 400m hurdles Open; and high and long jump Open.

Jodean Williams (second left) won the Women’s 60m at last year’s staging of Western Relays held at GC Foster Sports College, running 7.16 seconds (0.4m/s), beating Roniesha McGregor of UWI (left) and MVP’s Serena Cole. In the back ground are Lavanya Williams, then of William Knibb and Janeek Brown. (Photo: Paul Reid)

High school athletes will compete in classes in the sprint hurdles as well as discus throw and shot put and relays from 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m.

World Athletics Under 20 Championships medallists Deandre Daley, formerly of Herbert Morrison Technical and Shanoya Douglas of Muschett High, who will both try to defend their respect 100m titles today, will also be recognised by the organisers for their outstanding performances throughout the 2024 season.

The late sports journalist Hubert Lawrence will also be honoured as the meet patron.

Based on entries, the field events could produce fireworks with Raymond Richards, who recently cleared 2.31m in the men’s high jump at the Queens/Grace Jackson meet, leading a field that will also include Christoff Bryan and Lushane Wilson.

Former national champion and World Championships representative Tissanna Hickling will headline the women’s long jump Open which will also see Jade Ann Dawkins of St Jago High.

Newly minted national junior record holder, Marla-Kay Lampart of Clarendon College, will seek to defend her title in the Girls Class 1 shot put and will go up against Edwin Allen’s Dionjah Shaw.

Cornwall College’s Mar-Lando Farquharson is the defending champion in the Class 1 boys’ shot put but faces strong competition from Munro College’s Devonte Edwards and Javontae Smith.

Smith, a Carifta Games medallist, is the defending champion in the Class 2 event and is expected to defend his title comfortably.

On the track, the men’s invitational 60m dash should be close with the likes of Emanuel Archibald of Guyana, Tyquendo Tracy of Jamaica as well as Odaine McPherson and Rasheed Foster.

Deandre Daley won the men’s 100m at last year’s staging of Western Relays held at GC Foster Sports College in 10.40 seconds as GC Foster’s McKish Compton at left. (Photo: Paul Reid)

— Paul Reid