Most eyes will be on Wilkie Cumberbatch's speedster Mario Burke (right) today. (Picture by Charles Pitt-Grant.)

by EZRA STUART

THE FASTEST PRE-TEEN BOYS AND GIRLS in the island will be on show at the National Stadium today for the finals of the annual National Primary Schools Athletic Championships (NAPSAC).

In the battle for primary school athletics supremacy, defending boys champion Charles F. Brome will face stiff competition from Wilkie Cumberbatch, Erdiston and Ellerton, while reigning queens Hilda Skeene will be challenged by Charles F. Brome, Erdiston, Wilkie Cumberbatch, St Paul's and Mount Tabor.

Other schools like Ellerton, Luther Thorne, Sharon Primary, West Terrace and Belmont could also come into the reckoning.

The battle in the Under-13 Boys' 100, 200 and 400 metres should be between Wilikie Cumberbatch's Mario Burke, who broke the 200 (25.98) record during the semi-finals en route to the fastest times in the three races, and Charles
F. Brome's Tré Adamson, who has the second fastest times.

After clocking 12.57 seconds in the semi-finals, Burke, will be looking for a gift on the track by trying to break Taureen Rose's 100-metre record of 12.50 seconds.

St Paul's Leah Barker will be the favourite to land the sprint double in the Under-13 Girls' 100 and 200 metres with her biggest challenge expected to come from Gordon Greenidge's Kiara Maynard, Wilkie Cumberbatch's Akeilia Knight, Jalisa Burrowes of Lawrence T. Gay and Charles F. Brome's Talasiah Balgobin.

In the under-11 division, Wilkie Cumberbatch's Ajani Alleyne, who broke the long jump record in the semi-finals, Sharon Primary's Kedane Pollard, Charles F. Brome's Aden Downes and Akeel Campbell of St Philip Primary, should have a ding-dong battle. The girls' showdown in this age group should be between Mount Tabor's Tristan Evelyn, who broke the record in the cricket ball throw, Cuthbert Moore's Sharima Best, Luther Thorne's Shani Williams and Allana Ince of Charles F. Brome.

In the under-nine age group, the girls to watch are Erdiston's Nashandi Clarke, Grazette's Shontae Cole, Sharon's Rosette Hoyte, Ellerton's Tiffany Scantlebury and Shamara Alexander of Eagle Hall, while the boys' race should be between Shaquille Ifill of All Saints Primary, West Terrace's Jamahl Burke, and the Charles F. Brome trio of Ajani Ince, Matthew Clarke and Connor Small.

In the longer distances, the Open Boys' 800 metres, Ellerton's Richard Hall has the fastest time of 2:35.64 metres, while Jaria Hoyte, one of only six athletes from the Bayley's School who are competing, is the hot favourite after her 1:51.34 clocking in the semi-finals.

The relays could also be crucial to the final outcome and this is where Charles F. Brome could pick up valuable points.

Schools which do well in the cricket ball throw, long jump and high jump, can also challenge for the top.