St. Jago's sprint star Yohan Blake and Manchester High's middle-distance ace Natoya Goule at the official launch of the GraceKennedy ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships 2007 at the Terra Nova Hotel, yesterday. - ricardo makyn

The top performers at this year's GraceKennnedy ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships will reap rich rewards from the first-time title sponsors.

GraceKennedy, through two of its companies, Grace Foods and First Global, will provide assistance to top-performing athletes and schools at the March 28-31 championships.

Two scholarships will be awarded to a male and female athlete to attend a local tertiary institution. Dubbed the First Global Scholarship, this award is worth $135,000, to be paid over three years.

The champion boy and girl will collect cash prizes of $35,000. There will also be the Herb McKenley award of $30,000 each to the winners of the male and female 4x400m, while the Building Hope award for the most improved boys and girls school is valued at $20,000.

As a salute to and in recognition of former Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association president and GraceKennedy employee, there will be a special award named the Adrian Barrington Wallace Award. This will be awarded to a Class Two male athlete who displays a love for the sport while performing well at the championships and consistently excelling academically. The award to be sponsored by First Global will see the athlete receiving $90,000, payable over three years.

Don Wehby, deputy CEO of GraceKennedy Investments, speaking at the official launch of the GraceKennedy ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships 2007 at the Terra Nova Hotel, yesterday. - ricardo makyn

In announcing the awards at yesterday's launch of the 2007 GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships at the Terra Nova Hotel yesterday, deputy chief executive officer of the title sponsors, Don Wehby, said his company has always seen it fit to contribute to the development of the nation's youth.

"GraceKennedy wishes to thank the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association for allowing us to be a part of the most popular, best-organised schoolboy and girl track and field meet in the Caribbean and possibly the world. Year after year, our athletes continue to perform to world-class standards," Wehby said.

He called on athletes to continue to perform to the best of their abilities.

"Do your best, compete hard, but most of all, be fair," he said. Chairman of ISSA's Boys' and Girls' Championships committee, Wolmer's Boys principal Dave Myrie, said, like last year, security at the meet will get top priority. The security measures include accreditation for all persons who will work at the meet. These will include vendors, concessionaires and Independence Park employees.

An increase in the number of rapid response and ejection teams and improved security features on tickets to eliminate the possibility of duplication have been effected.

Entrance fees for this year's meet are: Wednesday and Thursday (grandstand only) Adults $300 and children in uniform - $50. Friday: bleachers $500. grandstand $1,000.

Saturday: bleachers $700, grandstand $1,500. A season ticket for all four days is $2,200.