HELSINKI OLYMPIC Games 4x400 metres relay gold medallists Herb McKenley, Leslie Laing, Dr George Rhoden and Dr. Arthur Wint and Byron LaBeach head the eight people who will be inducted into the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association's (JAAA) Hall of Fame at the inaugural ceremony set for June 18 at the Pegasus Hotel.
Also being honoured is Jamaica's first female finalist in an event at the Olympics, Dr Cynthia Thompson, and the Most Hon. Norman Washington Manley who was a key figure in the formation of the JAAA. The final inductee, American Joe Yancey, has been given an honorary award. Yancey was the coach of the Jamaica Olympic team in 1948, 1952 and 1956.
Speaking at a press briefing to announce and give details of the ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday, JAAA president Pat Anderson said the awards function would be an annual event to "pay homage to those who have given so much to our country".
The annual awards will be divided into three categories Hall of Fame (gold), Silver Awards and Bronze Awards.
To be inducted in the Hall of Fame, the recipients must have achieved one of the following: Olympic or world outdoor champion, world record holder, a relay gold medallist, have equalled world records, consistency in performance over a long period, have made significant and pioneering contribution to track and field in areas such as coach or administrator.
The Silver Awards will apply to gold medallists at World Outdoor Championships and secondary meets such as the Goodwill Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and World Cup.
Bronze Awards will be given to athletes who have won gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games and outstanding members of the athletic family in coaching, administration, team and meet officials, journalism and institutions. All decisions of the JAAA awards committee will be final.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson will be the guest speaker at next Wednesday's function which will be known as the JAAA/VMBS Hall of Fame Awards. Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) will be the main sponsors for the event. Tickets, which go on sale today, will cost $5,000.
Meanwhile, more than 200 athletes have already sent in entries for the National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships set for June 19-21 at the National Stadium.
Heading the list of 51 senior males and 129 females are Commonwealth Games 400m champion Michael Blackwood and national 100m hurdles record holder Brigitte Foster.
Blackwood will be opposed by long-time rivals Gregory Haughton, Davian Clarke and Danny McFarlane. McFarlane is also expected to turn out in the 400m hurdles.
Foster's main challenge should come from former record holder Delloreen Ennis-London and Commonwealth gold medalist Lacena Golding-Clarke.
An interesting entry in the senior 200m is last year's World Junior champion Usain Bolt. Bolt's 20.25 seconds at the 2003 Boys Championships is one of the fastest times in the world this year.
Action gets under way at 3:00 p.m. next Thursday.
