OECS Invitational Road Relay kicks off road racing season

The inaugural OECS International Road Relay Classic will kick off the 2012 local road racing calendar of Team Athletics SVG.{{more}}

The road relay, which replaces the annual Round D Town relay, takes place on the afternoon of Sunday, October 7, but will still have its local component, as several primary and secondary schools, as well as local clubs, will take part in the event.

There was regional participation last year, when the Grenada team copped the first place, with SVG’s team one placing second.

This year though, an international field is being encouraged.

The relay, which consists of four legs, gets going at 3 p.m., from the intersection of Halifax Street and South River Road. From there, runners head up to Sharpe Street, then onto Bay Street, turning at Lower Bay Street, on to Back Street, with the changeover at the starting point.

The overseas teams are required to pay a registration fee of US$100, while the primary school entrants pay EC$10, secondary schools $20 and the open category $40.

Prizes will be awarded to the top four finishers in the international category in the order of US$1,000 for the first place, $700 for second, $500 for the third place and $300 for the fourth place.

Host St Vincent and the Grenadines will enter two teams in this segment.

The prizes in the primary school category see the winner gaining $300, the second place $200 and the third place $150.

The sum of $400 is at stake for the winner in the secondary school category, with $300 allocated for the second place and $200 for the third place.

In the open category, the winner earns $600, the second place $400 and the third place $200.

These prizes are for both males and females.

International teams wishing to compete can do so online at vin.mf.iaaf.org or by sending an email to svgnoc@vincysurf.com, while local teams should register at Olympic House at Kingstown Park.

Following the OECS International Invitational Road Relay, the next race on the local calendar is set for Sunday, October 21, when the Log Enterprises Rabacca to Byera Hill race will take place.

Sunday, November 11, is set aside for the Log Enterprises Sion Hill Sprint, with the Log Enterprise North Leeward event set for Sunday, November 25.

The season culminates on December 2, with the Union Island race. (RT)