The 28th renewal of the Puma/Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Development Meet will be staged this Saturday at Kirkvine Sports Club in Manchester, starting at 10 a.m.

Over the last four years, over 125 schools and institutions have participated, with approximately 2,000 athletes each year.

Pat Anderson, chief organiser of the meet, said the meet, which started as the Manchester Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) Development Meet in 1982 and has seen athletes such as Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Danny McFarlane, Melaine Walker, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart competed over the years, will continue to be competitive.

'Competitive as usual'

According to Anderson, this year's meet is expected to be "competitive as usual".

He added: "A real carnival-style event is expected, but one of the highlights, as usual, is most of the top stars will be here."

Anderson said Bolt, the world's triple record holder and Olympic gold medallist in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, along with all the MVP stars, including Powell, Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, Simpson, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Shericka Williams, Germaine Mason and Walker, winner of the 400m hurdles in Beijing, are expected to attend the meet as spectators.

Last-minute entries

Speaking of the schools down to take part, Anderson said: "The entries are coming in, but most of our people are last minute."

He said entries will be accepted up to Saturday morning.

However, he expects a number of schools from Kingston, even though the Douglas Forrest Meet will be held at Stadium East.

The top girl's schools, Holmwood, Champs winners, Edwin Allen, Manchester and Vere, are expected to take part.

The events to be contested are 3000m (female), 5000m (male), which will open the day's activities, the mile relays, which are set to close the proceedings, along with 200m, 400m and 800m.