WINNING SCREAM! Athletes from St. Benedict's Primary cheer and scream after their school won their first INSPORT/Swizzzle Primary Athletics Championships title at the National Stadium, on Saturday, May 12. -photos by Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

Harbour View-based St. Benedict's Primary tallied a combined score of 162.25 points to win their first Institute of Sports/SWIZZZLE Primary Schools' Athletics Championships, which ended at the National Stadium, on Saturday.

St. Benedict's, the school that placed fourth last year to a trio of St. Catherine Schools, easily beating off a challenge from second-place New Providence (131), the Most Improved School, to top the four-day meet.

New Providence jumped 20 places from the position in which they finished last year, 22nd, to second place.

The top two were followed by St. Catherine (125), Waterford (78.50), Portsmouth (78), Mona (71.25), Naggo Head (71), Angels (57.25), dethroned champions Spanish Town (56) and Ascot (54) rounding off the top 10.

St. Benedict's won the girls' section with 100 points, followed by Rousseau (47), St. Catherine (47), Waterford (45), Spanish Town (38) and Angels (37).

New Providence copped the boys' section with 94 points, chased by St. Catherine (78), Mona (71), St. Benedict's (61.75), Belmont Park (51.25) and Ascot (44).

The coach of St. Benedict's, Marlon Tucker, was elated.

"I'm very happy with this title. I won with Spanish Town and now I have come over to St. Benedict's and win with them, that's a good feeling."

Tucker added: "I am, however, disappointed that I am not recognised by the JAAA (Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association). I am one of the best coach in the country and I don't have a Level One track and field certificate?" he questioned.

"We have a rich tradition in track and field, and I have some kids who are willing to work hard and now we are reaping the success."

This was one of the most exciting Primary Champs as a number of races went down to the wire.

St. Benedict's used depth in both field and track events to wrestle the title from the St. Catherine schools which have dominated the championships for about two decades.

The St. Benedict's pair of Shanice Clarke (45.91) and Peta-Gay Williams (46.37) set the place ablaze with a quinela in the girls' Class Two 300m at about mid-day. Later, their teammate Nicholas Deighton ran a good, tactical race to win the boys' 800m in 2:29.93 seconds, as the team from east Kingston started to pull away from their rivals.

ONE TO WATCH

Shadae Russell of Harbour View Primary winning the girls' 800m Open in 2:35.95 seconds.

St. Catherine's Kejon Bonnick is one to watch for the future. He won the long jump Open boys event on the second day of the championship, and the 300m Class Two boys on the final day in 44.21 seconds, ahead of St. Benedict's Damar Eurett and Damani Reid of August Town.

Other winners include Loshane Keffle of Mountain View in the Class Three boys' 100m final (14.36), while the Class Three girls' equivalent went to Keasha Davis of New Providence in 14.35.

Davis, the Champion Girl of the meet, also won the 150m in 21.34 seconds, a bit slower than her 20.79 semi-final run.

Colin Mason of New Providence landed the Class One boys' 200 metres in 25.92 seconds, and placed second in the 400m final in 1:00.32, while the Class One girls' 200m was won by Kiss-Ann Brown of St. Francis in 27.02.

Champion Boy Beresford Sweeney of New Providence completed the sprint double when he won the Class Two 200 metres in 27.46 seconds. He had earlier won the 100m final in 13.3. Tri-Ann Davis of Ensom City took the Class Two girls' 200m in 28.58 seconds.

Romario Shaw of Mona won the Class One boys' 400 final in 59.92 seconds, with the Class One girls' 400m going to Kadijah Lawes of St. Catherine in 1:03.98.

Meanwhile, Shadae Russell of Harbour View Primary brought joy to her school after winning the girls' 800m open in 2:35.92 seconds. She was the only athlete to make a final for the school and won gold.

Her coach, Fitzroy Ball, was overjoyed.

"She's our only finalist and she won, that's great."

Teshane Waldron (right) powers past Ensom City Primary's Seana Richards to win the girls' Class Two 4x100m.