Gibson-McCook Relays the premier track meet in Jamaica, declares organisers
Published:Monday | February 3, 2025 | 5:03 PMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
Errol Greene, vice-chairman of the Gibson-McCook Relays organising committee, has stated that the annual event has elevated itself as the premier track and field meet in Jamaica following their newly obtained status as a World Athletics Tier Two ranked competition.
Speaking at the relays’ press launch and sponsors’ luncheon yesterday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Greene said the organising committee will ensure the event attains the global standards expected from its competition’s ranking.
“We have grown and expanded over the years. We have had our highs and we have survived our lows like COVID. We have seen many persons come and go but we are still here. The recognition and expansion of what we have seen is notable in that the World Athletics has now ranked the Gibson-McCook as a Tier Two event,” Greene revealed at the press launch.
“That speaks volumes and, when we speak now as an organising committee, we have that privilege. So we are preparing our members and volunteers to offer the type of world-class service that will keep us in that position.”
The ranking means the Gibson-McCook Relays is considered one of the more noteworthy track and field events in the world. As a World Athletics sanctioned meet, it also means all competition results from the event will be under consideration for the global ranking, top performance lists and possible world record ratification.
Ian Forbes, first vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, congratulated the committee for their achievement and is hopeful that more local meets will be able to follow in their footsteps.
“It is very important and I am very happy and proud that we have meets here in Jamaica which are designated as such, based on meeting the World Athletics criteria in terms of officiating and the requisite support services to ensure that the meet is run at a certain level,” he said.
Forbes continued, “The mission now is to make sure that all meets can make that standard,”
Speaking on the event’s schedule, Dr Marion DuCasse, chair of the organising committee, said this year’s staging of the meet will see in excess of 2,500 athletes competing across 40 events.
She also stated each event will have individual sponsors to ensure each race will have its own recognition.
“I want to say at this stage that we do have 40 events and we have the sponsorships to ensure that all 40 events are sponsored,” she stated.
“It is not many organisations that can have presenting sponsors in PUMA, major sponsors in TVJ and Wisynco Group, but also have so many additional sponsors to ensure that each event is specially recognised,” she continued.
“We have an event that we know will be enjoyed and we know the entries are coming in. We do not have the final number but we know that we have more than 250 schools islandwide, in addition to clubs and institutions,. This will ensure that we will have more than 2,500 athletes taking part.”
The Gibson-McCook Relays is set for February 22 at the National Stadium, with the first event at 9:30 a.m.