THE 2011 local track and field season will get under way next Saturday, as the 18th staging of the Wata/JC Track and Field Development meet will open the JAAA calendar at Jamaica College, starting at 8:30 a.m.

The Wata/JC meet is one of the qualifying meets for the Boys and Girls' Championships, which will be held in late March. Dubbed the meet with a difference, the Wata/JC meet organisers are anxious to see it maintain its established image of being well-organised and well-run.

Male high school athletes will compete in Under-19, 16 and 14 between classes 1-4, while female athletes will compete in Under-19, 17, 15 and 13, which will also range from classes 1-4. There will also be a category for clubs and institutions.

The events scheduled for the competition will be 100m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m for females; 5000m for males; 70m hurdles, 80m hurdles 100 and 110 metres hurdles. Field events will be long jump, discus, high jump, shot putt and pole vault.

As usual, at the meet an outstanding individual who has contributed significantly to Jamaica College will be honoured. This year's honouree will be Alfred 'Freddie' Henry, who was the successul coach of the school's football team who won the triple prize this year.

Henry returned to Jamaica College in 2005 where he rejoined the academic staff as teacher of geography, history, physical education and head coach of the Manning Cup football team.

This was after an earlier stint as teacher and assistant Manning Cup coach between 1985-89. Under his stewardship since 2005, Jamaica College have won every schoolboy title on offer except the Under-16 Colts trophy.