IT WAS so nice Good Shepherd had to do it twice.
The girls of the St James school were all on their own in the winner’s circle while St Alban’s dethroned St Cyprian’s boys to emerge the new champions of the Andrea Blackett Zone on the third day of the National Primary Schools Athletics Championships at the Usain Bolt Complex, yesterday.
Good Shepherd set their own pace and ensured they did not share the championship trophy this time, amassing 177.50 points ahead of Ignatius Byer (156), while St Alban’s (144.50) were third.
Selah, who shared the title with Good Shepherd last year, fought hard but had to settle for fourth position among the girls with 121 points.
It was a close and surprising win for Alban’s Boys, who managed to push St Cyprian’s into second place after their consistent performance in the relays.
St Alban’s amassed 200.50 points with St Cyprian’s (193) second while St Silas were a distant third with 89.50 points.
A total of ten records – six in individual events and four in the relays – were broken.
The first two records were smashed by Aaliyah Agard of Ignatius Byer in the Under-13 girls.
Agard, who also won the Under-13 divisional title, was victorious in the 100 and 200 metres in 13.63 and 28.62 seconds, respectively. She placed second in the long jump with 4.27 metres.
The Under-13 Girls 400 metres record was broken by both Shakacia Watson of Good Shepherd and Bryanne Boyce of St Joseph Primary. Watson won in a time of 1:05.00 with Boyce second in 1:05.96.
The other four individual records were shattered in the field events.
Shahada Headley won the Under-13 Girls cricket ball throw with 45.75 metres while Emma Hodgkinson of St Winifred’s cleared the bar at 1.23 metres for a new girls high jump open record.
The final record was the boys’ high jump open which was broken by both Micah Blair of St Winifred’s and Malique Griffith of St Silas with 1.25 metres. Blair won by virtue of having fewer knockdowns.
The relays also pumped up the competition for the day especially those who were among the record breakers.
The St Alban’s Primary’s Under-9 Girls and boys made double wins in the 4×100 relays with times of (1:08.29) and (1:03.99) respectively while the Under-13 Girls’ 4×100 metre relay was taken by Ignatius Byer in 57.39 seconds.
