Exciting Hugo Chambers 5k expected tomorrow

ALL ROADS will lead to Jamaica College tomorrow as the 29th staging of the National Hugo Chambers Memorial 5K road race and Fun Run will take place with activities set to start at 1:30p.m with the one-mile special Olympics and 12 & under kids.

The two-mile race for athletes between the ages of 13-19 will follow at 2:30 p.m with the feature event, the 5K Fun Run/Walk to climax things at 4:00 p.m.

This year’s staging pays memory to the late Hugo Chambers, an outstanding student and headmaster of Jamaica College.

He was a well-know sportsman and sports administrator who made a significant contribution to the development of sports in Jamaica.

Race organiser Alan Beckford expects another big turnover for tomorrow’s 29th staging. “I am very pleased with the support from across the island so far, and we expect another big turnout – in the region of around 450500 (participants),” said Beckford.

BATTLE FOR THE TOP

The 5K event will start on Mona Road on the Jamaica College campus and will feature several of the country’s top middle-distance runners and several high school athletes from Vere Technical, Hydel, Edwin Allen, Mavis Bank, Holmwood Technical, Kingston College and St Jago High, who are expected to battle for the top male and female team awards.

Lenford Adams is the defending male champion, while Samantha James took the top honour among the females last year.

Today’s event should feature the rivalry between GC Foster College’s Oshane Archibald and Mavis Ban’sk Garfield Gordon, who turned the tables on Archibald at the CB UWI road race last Sunday after finishing behind his opponent at the Mico 5K and the Portmore Burger King 10 K events.

The two-mile race involving the 13-19 age group, which was added to the programme in 2009, has become very popular among high school athletes as sprinters use the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming track season.

Entry fee is $1200 per competitor, $500 for students, and the closing date for entries will be today.