KINGSTON, Jamaica – Defending champions Naggo Head are in the driver’s seat going into the Saturday’s (13 May) final day of the 37th INSPORTS Primary School Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.
The seven-time champions, who are aiming for a third straight title, lead at the end of the today’s penultimate day with 63 points, followed by St John’s on 30 points. Harbour View, Greater Portmore and Spanish Town share third spot with 29 points each, ahead of Portsmouth on 28 points and Belmont Park and Lyssons – both on 27 points.
As expected the defending champions are well represented in most finals, even though they have been far from dominant compare to previous championships.
The highlight of the day came in the Class One boys 200m final, won by Old Harbour’s Christopher Scott. Scott sped away from his rivals to win gold in 24.42 seconds ahead of last year’s champion boy Naggo Head’s Yourie Lawrence, who clocked 25.30 and Belmont Park’s Akeem Weir who logged 25.30 seconds.
Asanneya Tomlin of St John’s Primary took the girls equivalent in 25.96 seconds, beating Greater Portmore’s Domoya Compass (26.37) and Quaycian Davis (26.81) of Naggo Head.
It was a battle to the finish line in the Class Two boys 200m final as the diminutive Marvin Patterson of Portsmouth edged Belmont Park’s Ra-John Gray, who was the pre-race favourite. Patterson, closing with every stride snatched gold in 26.06 from the lanky Gray, who recorded 26.07, while Oshane Tucker (26.60) of Sargeantville secured the bronze.
Quana Walker of Lyssons Primary ran away from her competitors to secure gold in the Class Two girls 200m final in a time of 27.10 seconds. Chennel Thompson (27.71) of St Richard’s and Ewarton’s Jadeann Dawkins (27.88) were second and third respectively behind Walker.
Kimeka Smith’s time of 20.43 seconds in the final of the Class Three girls 150m was even better than Spanish Town’s Taih Marques White who won the Class Three boys 150m in 20.45 seconds.
Excelsior’s Omarian Constable gave Excelsior their first gold medal which came in the girls long jump Open with a distance of 4.77m achieved in her final attempt.
Abby-Gayle Williams (4.70m) of St John’s won the silver, while Portsmouth’s Keneik Brown took the bronze in 4.67 metres.
Anthony Willis of St Patrick’s defeated Adrian Rumble on the count back to win gold in the boys high jump Open in 1.55m, while Nicholas Williams of Excelsior earned the bronze after clearing the bar at 1.40m.
Buff Bay recorded its first gold medal courtesy of Shanta Jones in the girls 800m Open. Jones won in a time of 2:33.27 ahead of Naggo Head’s Rusheen Morgan (2:35.26) and Kelise Gooden (2:36.52) of Greater Portmore.
Darnell Edwards of Harbour View won the boys 800m Open in 2:19.50 followed by St Jude’s Shamari Jennings (2:22.88) and Jhahiem Henry, who logged 2:25.49 seconds.
Anthony Walker of Friendship won the boys cricket ball throw Open in 60.45 metres ahead of Anthony Willis (58.30m) of St Patrick’s and Christopher Wright (57.14m) of Duhaney Park.
Combined Points Table (After 14 finals scored)
1. Naggo Head 63
2. St John’s 30
3. Harbour View 29
a. Greater Portmore 29
b. Spanish Town 29
4. Portsmouth 28
5. Lyssons 27
6. Belmont Park 27
7. Excelsior 26
8. St Patrick’s 20
