Jordan’s Supermarket Good Shepherd Primary Jaguars defended their territory and emerged as double-crown champions yesterday of the Rubis Caribbean Andrea Blackett Zone for a second consecutive year in the National Primary Schools Athletics Championships (NAPSAC).
Good Shepherd, who placed third overall in the girls’ standings at the NAPSAC finals last year, topped the zone again this year with 291 points in the girls’ division. Meanwhile, the boys, with 254 points, also secured first place yesterday when the eighth and final zone was completed at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
In the girls standings, Eden Lodge Primary (175 points) finished second, St Paul’s Primary (133.50) were third, St Philip’s Primary (131.50) placed fourth, and St Gabriel’s School (122 points) finished fifth.
The boys’ race was slightly different, with St Paul’s Primary and St Gabriel’s School tying for second place with 167 points each. Eden Lodge (150 points) finished fourth, while Sharon Primary (129 points) secured fifth place.
No records were broken on the day, but the competition was exciting among the 11 participating schools. There was a three-way tie for victrix ludorum between Under-13 female champion Amelia Hall, her Good Shepherd schoolmate Dal’ani Ifill, who dominated the Under-11 Girls’ division, and Under-9 standout Taraji Codrington of St Philip’s Primary. Each athlete scored 30 points.
Starting with Hall, 12,
she won the 400 metres timed final in 1:08.64 minutes, secured the top podium finish in the cricket ball throw (41.32 metres), and was equally impressive in the high jump open (1.30 metres).
Good Shepherd also claimed the boys’ high jump open title, thanks to Tyron Ross, who cleared 1.35 metres.
In the Under-13 Girls’ short sprint, Kayleigh Hart, a top junior athlete from Proformer Track Club, won the 100 metres (13.46 seconds) and 200 metres (28.22 seconds).
Meanwhile, 10-year-old Ifill dominated her events, showcasing her speed on the Ryan Brathwaite Track by winning the 100 metres (15.51), 200 (32.75 seconds), and 300 (51.53) for Good Shepherd.
Eight-year-old Codrington of St Philip’s Primary produced an outstanding performance, winning the Under-9 Girls’ 100 metres (16.49 seconds), 150 metres (25.58 seconds), and the long jump (3.27 metres). It was a family affair for St Philip’s Primary, as Codrington’s younger sister, Jessica, emerged as the Under-7 Girls’ Division champion with 21 points. She won the 50-metre dash (9.93 seconds) and secured silver in the standing broad jump (1.27 metres), which was won by Ava-Grace Harris of St Gabriel’s School (1.33 metres).
Among the top-performing boys, victor ludorum and Under-13 champion Adoni Greaves of Good Shepherd stood out with 28 points.
He displayed true grit, winning the 400 metres (1:07.98), taking the cricket ball throw (49.38 metres), and securing second place in the 200 metres (29.12) – just one split second behind gold medallist and teammate Papa Yawson (29.11).
In the Under-11 Boys’ category, St Gabriel’s School shone brightly, finishing third overall in the boys’ standings, thanks to Bryce Turton’s outstanding performance.
He dominated the 100 metres (14.68 seconds), and 200 metres (29.98 seconds), while also securing third place in the 300 metres (49.43 seconds).
Takil Sealy of St Philip’s Primary won that event in 49.07 seconds, with Conner Burton (49.37 seconds) finishing second.
The most outstanding Under-9 boy was A’Lyrikos McNeil of St Paul’s Primary, who amassed 28 points. He clocked 12.86 seconds for victory in the 80 metres, registered the fastest time in the 100 (15.72 seconds), and placed second in the 150 metres (24.96 seconds), just behind Taliyk Harris
of Sharon Primary (24.95).
Once again, St Gabriel’s School made their presence felt when Under-7 Boys champion Liam André (16 points) won the standing broad jump (1.36 metres) and secured third place in the 50-metre dash (10.20 seconds).
That event was won by Armani Archer of Eagle Hall Primary (9.58 seconds), while Shakir Gibson of St Paul’s Primary (10.12 seconds) finished second.
Eden Lodge Primary opened the day with strong performances, claiming victories in both the Girls’ 600 metres and Boys’ 800 metres open races, thanks to Zaniyah Bruce (1:58.12) and Jamani Thompson (2:35.05), respectively. (ML)
