A carnival atmosphere affair is anticipated in the eastern end of the country today as athletics fans are expected to turn out in large numbers at the 28th staging of the Howard Jackson Relays at the Morant Bay High School, starting at 8:30 a.m.

The event has been a very popular one on the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) calendar, with top high schools across the island participating in distance relays.

Due to the unreadiness of the GC Foster College running track and the lack of sponsorship to stage the meet elsewhere, the central hurdles and relays will not take place for the second year in a row. Several top teams will return to Morant Bay.

Two teams that attended the meet on a regular basis in former years, St Jago High and Vere Technical, will make a return.

Other shools expected today are St George's College, St Andrew Technical, Bog Walk High, Camperdown, Alpha, Hydel, St Hugh's, Titchfield, Happy Grove, and parish teams Seaforth and hosts Morant Bay High will be on parade.

Scheduled relay events include the 4x150 metres, 4x300m 4x600m, and open medley (300x600x900x1200).

In addition, there will be 100m and 800m for all classes, and these events will be used as qualifiers for the upcoming ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys' Girls' Athletics Championships.

Olympian Hansle Parchment, a past student of Morant Bay High, will be a special guest.

- R.G.