The 34th annual Gibson Relays takes place today February 27, 2010 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The Gibson relays is a one-day relay event which features top athletes from prep, primary and high schools throughout Jamaica, some of Jamaica's best local stars, in track and field as well as teams from overseas. Competitors are expected from Martinique, Canada, Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Cuba, Florida, the Bahamas and Guadeloupe for this year's Relays. With Jamaica at the top of its game on the world stage in the area of track and field, today promises to be a great treat for the Jamaican fans.

One of the highlights of today’s meet will be the appearance of Jamaica’s triple Olympic and World Championships gold medalist Usain Bolt, the undisputed fastest man in the world, who  will run for his club Racers Track Club in the men’s 4 by 100 and 4 by 400-metre relays. Amoung their competitors will be the world-renowned MVP Track Club.

Gibson Relays takes place about a month before Jamaica’s Boys’ and Girls’ School Championship which is one of the nation's great annual sporting events.  The meet will also feature the island’s top schools, which will use the relays to test their readiness for Champs. This year Calabar High School for boys will be noticeably missed.  As a result of using an ineligible athlete at last year's meet, an error which Calabar nobly pointed out to the organizers, Calabar High School for boys has withdrawn for this year. The absence of Calabar High means that fans will have to wait to see the highly acclaimed Calabar High 4x100 m relay team.

Personally I think that this move by Calabar is very commendable. According to the rules and regulations outlined by the organizers, the infringement automatically attracts a one-year suspension from the meet. Yes, it was the Calabar High School officials that brought the incident to the attention of the meet directors; however the lesson of discipline to the participants and the student population on a whole is invaluable. Winning is not nothing if not gained honestly.  

Another highlight of today’s meet will be the guest lecturer at this year's Gibson Relays technical corner,  Denmark's Wilson Kipketer.  Winner of three successive IAAF World Championships in Athletics gold medals in 1995, 1997 and 1999, the native Kenyan who retired from active competition in August 2005 currently holds eight of the 11 all-time fastest runs over 800 metres. During the week leading up to the Relays, Kipketer addressed athletes at the GC Foster College.

There is so much more that I have not mentioned. All in all, today promises to be a very exciting and entertaining day at the National Stadium. Jamaica’s track and field at his best. If you can’t be there be sure to catch it on the television.

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