PHILADELPHIA, USA — Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) increased its incentive to Jamaican institutions that competed at the 130th Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, thanks to an additional US$5,000 contribution from the Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund.

TJB has been offering incentives to the top high school relay teams over the past few years, but widened the scheme this year to include field events as well as incentives for tertiary institutions, a release from the organisation said.

TJB announced that in addition to the US$1,000 award to Jamaican teams that won the Championship of America High School 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m relays, bonuses were also paid to the winners of the discus, shot put, triple jump, high jump, and long jump events.

“The Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund is proud to support Team Jamaica Bickle’s School Nutrition Program,” the release quoted Julie Hutchinson as saying. “This investment reflects both our belief in the program’s continued success and a personal connection to its impact. Our family’s journey was shaped by similar opportunities that empowered our patriarch, Dr Gladstone ‘Fluney’ Hutchinson, to pursue significant scholar-athletic achievement. We are committed to helping ensure the next generation has access to that same foundation.”

The release said Team Jamaica Bickle continued its commitment to supporting Jamaican student-athletes at the Penn Relays with a significant expansion of its incentive programme, increasing overall prize support and extending opportunities across both track and field events.

“Building on last year’s successful launch, the organisation once again awarded prize money to the schools of Jamaican high school boys’ and girls’ teams that won the Championship of America 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m relays. For 2026, each winning team received a US$1,000 contribution to their respective school,” the release said.

It added that Team Jamaica Bickle expanded its field event incentives to include the high school championship discus, shot put, triple jump, and long jump. The top-performing Jamaican high school boy and girl in each event earned a US$1,000 donation to their school.

Five tertiary institutions took part at the Penn Relays along with more than 50 high schools, and TJB said two US$1,000 prizes were designated for Jamaican college teams.

“This expansion reflects a growing commitment to supporting student-athletes throughout their academic and athletic journey,” the release said.

Irwine G Clare Sr, chairman and chief executive officer of Team Jamaica Bickle, said they expanded their involvement with schools in more than one area.

“At Team Jamaica Bickle, nutrition is at the heart of what we do. Proper nutrition is essential to performance, recovery, and overall well-being. By directing these funds to school-based nutrition programmes, we are making a direct investment in our student-athletes, ensuring they are properly fuelled to compete at a high level and succeed beyond the track,” he said.

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