Packed fields expected for STETHS Invitational
Packed fields are expected for the 41st staging of the STETHS/Ollivierre/Smith Invitational to be held at STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth.
Nearly 40 schools are down to compete at the one-day meet, which is scheduled to get under way this morning.
With the cancellation of the Queen’s/Grace Jackson meet usually held the same day, in the Corporate Area, Meet Director Neil Harrison told the Jamaica Observer that organisers had received calls from several new schools wishing participate.
“We are expecting yet another good meet this year,” Harrison said on Friday. “We have received more entries than normal. We have some new schools and we are just hoping the weather will cooperate with us and we can have a full day of competition.”
Schools from western Jamaica will be well-represented at the meet.
Earlier in the year, Keith Wellington, principal of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), said that with the rising costs of hosting meets, they would only put on the event if schools from the region expressed need for the meet.
The passage of Hurricane Melissa in late October had caused significant damage to schools in the region, many of which have had to adjust the number of meets they competed in, and in some cases not attending meets outside the region due to the associated costs.
At the time, Wellington had said: “If we are not going to be able to help the western schools we are not going to have it this year. Once we make a decision to go ahead, it is going to be because we believe that our neighbouring schools need that sort of opportunity and that it will benefit them.”
Among the schools set to compete are hosts STETHS, Edwin Allen High, Alphansus Davis High, Manchester High, Holland High, Mount Alvernia High, Munro College and Cornwall College.
The events to be contested include the 400m hurdles Open for Girls and in Classes 1 and 2 for Boys; 200m Open for both genders; 100m, 400m and 1,500m in classes for both genders; shot put and discus throw, long, high and triple jumps in all classes, as well as Distance Medley and 4x400m relays Open.
Deijanae Bruce of Edwin Allen High competes in the Class 1 girls’ long jump during the STETHS Invitational meet in January 2025.
