INTENSE COMPETITION was the order of the day yesterday when the exciting quarter-finals of the Pine Hill Dairy National Primary Schools’ Athletics Competition were held at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
Tirique Collymore of Eden Lodge stunned the large crowd when he broke the record in the Under-7 Boys’ tennis ball throw. Collymore was the top qualifier with 33.10 metres, just over the record of 33.00 metres set in 2010 by Malachi Harris.
The next best throw came from Ajani Howard of Grantley Prescod Memorial with 26.49 metres, while Kajari Holder of A. DaCosta Edwards was third best with 25.40 metres.
The Under-13 Girls’ long jump record was obliterated by Tiara Stewart of Roland Edwards Primary. Stewart produced an impressive leap of 4.82 metres, erasing the old record of 4.76 metres set in 2006 by Sarika Mayers. Stewart also set the Jim Wedderburn Zone record in that event.
Kay’ghun Rouse of Bayleys Primary had the second best jump of 4.59 metres, while Loticia Carmichael of Selah Primary was next in line with 4.34 metres.
Stewart absolutely dominated the Under-13 Girls’ division and looks to be a strong contender for the victrix ludorum  title.
She was the day’s fastest qualifier in the 200 metres (27.87 seconds) and the 400 metres (1:05.47). Aaliyah Agard was also impressive as the second fastest 200 metres qualifier with 27.98 seconds, while third fastest in the 200 metres was Keeshanna Smith of Arthur Smith who clocked 28.31 seconds.
Shakacia Watson of Good Shepherd was the second fastest qualifier with 1:05.75, while Jada Worrell of St Stephen’s Primary was third fastest with 1:05.89.
Victoria Norville of Ignatius Byer Primary shaved almost a full six seconds off of her seed time in the Open Girls 600 metres to be the day’s fastest qualifier in that event. Norville, running in heat three, crossed the line first in one minute, 52.79 seconds. Her previous best was 1:58.39.
The next fastest qualifier in the 600 metres was Shakacia Watson of Good Shepherd Primary, who clocked 1:52.92, while Kaya Kellman-Wall of Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary was third fastest with 1:53.45.
The final heat of the Under-13 Boys’ 200 metres was one of the closest races of the day. Amir Gustave of Bay Primary and Yazid Daniel of Luther Thorne were neck and neck as they came down the straight towards the finish line. However, Gustave proved to the stronger of the two as he pulled ahead to win that heat in 26.93 seconds with Daniel second in 27.23 seconds.
But they will have to go through St Stephen’s Chaz Searles if they want to win the gold medal at the finals. Searles was an easy winner in the first heat of the day in 26.84 seconds. He was also the day’s fastest qualifier in the 100 metres after clocking 13.31 seconds.
The biggest showdown will be in the Under-11 Girls’ division as this is one of the closest this year. Kelescia Downes of Arthur Smith was the day’s fastest qualifier in the 100 metres with 14.42 seconds, while Skye Spencer-Layne of West Terrace was second fastest with 14.50 seconds.
Over in the 200 metres, Samiya Dell of Sharon Primary produced the day’s fastest time of 29.20 seconds, while Downes was second fastest with 29.60 seconds.
L.T. Gay Memorial’s Tonika Griffith was the fastest qualifier in the 400 metres after she clocked 1:08.47, while Jahzara Holford of West Terrace was second fastest with 1:08.52.
The semi-finals are slated for March 9 at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
petragooding@nationnews.com
