Jamaica’s local-based senior athletes will get more opportunities to prepare for the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) trial in June and for international competitions later this year, after the track and field federation pledged $3 million for the remainder of the four-meet Jubilee series.

The meets will assist Jamaican athletes preparing for the World Athletic Championships in Eugene, Oregon in the United States and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, in July and August, respectively.

The series will be officially launched today but a release from the JAAA yesterday confirmed the meets to be held this weekend, followed by another on May 21, with the final one set for June 4. The first meet was staged on February 19 at the National Stadium.

The series, which is being held in partnership with the Sport Development Foundation (SDF) and PUMA, will offer lucrative cash incentives to the athletes in 14 events — the 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, long jump and discus throw for male and female as well as the 110m hurdles and 100m hurdles.

Jamaica will celebrate 60 years of Independence in August.

“Track and field has been a major part of Jamaica’s history, and in the 60th year, we will continue to provide suitable competition for our senior athletes,” JAAA President Garth Gayle was quoted as saying.

“We thought we should offer our senior athletes an opportunity to sharpen their performances for the National Championships and other professional outings leading into the World Championships in July,” he added.

— Paul A Reid