A lifelong track and field fan and an athletics standout during her high school years at the Queen's School,EulandaReid-Hamilton was crushed when sudden illness caused her to miss the recent Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium.

Little did she know that a 'casual' interest in another sport, boxing, would lead her to an even bigger stadium for an even more prestigious event. Thanks to the Wray & Nephew Contender Series and their Wraytastic Promotion, Hamilton and her husband, Marvin, who together run a trucking business, will be heading to the iconic Bird's Nest in Beijing, China for the IAAF World Athletics Championships.

There, they will watch all the leading lights of track and field vie for medals and glory. The package includes round-trip business class airfare from Kingston to Beijing plus associated taxes and fees, five nights in a double occupancy hotel room including breakfast and dinner, three days' IAAF World Championship ticket packages for two for August 28 to 30, travel insurance, transportation to and from the airport, transportation to and from the stadium for three days, a one-day guided sightseeing tour of Beijing and US$100 cash per day for seven days.

Friendly prank

And to think it all started with a 'friendly prank'. Though admittedly not a boxing fan, Reid-Hamilton was nonetheless drawn to the Wray & Nephew Contender Series and began to attend the matches.

While watching one of the bouts at the Chinese Benevolent Association centre, a friend put her name up for onstage participation with the host, without her prior knowledge. At the end of her time with host Pretty Boy Floyd, however, she had gained an entry into the Wraytastic promotion, put in the required code, and promptly forgot about the whole thing.

"I was so surprised when they told me I had won, 'cause it had been such a long time earlier that I put in the code," she says. As to her feelings on winning, she is almost at a loss for words. "This is a dream come true," she says, after a momentary struggle. "I'm just so excited I can't even describe it. I just keep laughing to myself when I think about it."

The couple will have the opportunity to see the world's fastest man and all the other international stars and soak up some of the colourful Chinese culture.

"I know we're going to have a wonderful time, and I'm so grateful to Wray & Nephew for this opportunity," says Reid-Hamilton. Grateful, too, perhaps, to her enterprising friend for her bit of initiative.