MORE THAN, 200 athletes from 20 high schools will compete at this year's Jamaica National-sponsored Eastern Secondary Schools Sports Association (ESSSA) championship at the Independence Park complex on February 27 and 28.
Action begins at 9:00 a.m. on the opening day at the Stadium East field with events moving inside the National Stadium for the final day.
Speaking at yesterday's official launch of the 2006 champion-ships at the Terra Nova Hotel, Jamaica National's senior marketing executive, Emile Spence, announced his com-pany's $750,000 contribution to the sponsorship of this year's event. Spence lauded the persons who have helped to lift the championships in his company's 20-year association with the event.
"This morning we also applaud coaches Michael Arnold of Yallahs, Rupert Green of Oberlin and Ortis Wynter of St. Mary High who were all successful in the recent International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Level One examination," Spence said.
FULLY-QUALIFIED COACH
He added that he was looking forward to the day when each school in the eastern region could boast of having a fully-qualified coach.
Maurice Reid, community relations manager of associate sponsors Jamaica Public Service (JPS), revealed a more than 50 per cent increase in the light and power company's sponsorship. JPS moved its support from $490,000 last year to $690,000 for 2006.
Reid said his company has been focussing on education and sport over the past four years and had taken the popular eastern champs under its wings during that period.
"We are happy to be adding our energy to the development of the country's youth," Reid said.
Twenty of the 78 events, including the Class One, Two and Three girls 100m, will be directly sponsored by JPS. The others will fall under the umbrella of Jamaica National.
Consistent bad weather in the latter part of last year prevented the staging of the annual Cross Country Run. Points gained in the Cross Country are added to the final scores of schools at the two-day meet.
Defending boys', girls' and overall champions Morant Bay High are again expected to be among the top schools along with many-time championships Oberlin High and Yallahs High.
