Port-of-Spain & Environs Education District continued their fantastic run in the Atlantic National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships when they won the 2014 edition of the games at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Wednesday.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Educational District of Port-of-Spain and Environs proved unbeatable in local Primary School track and field.
The die was cast from the first event when Zakiya Williams sent the Port-of-Spain supporters into a frenzy by out-sprinting her Tobago rival Ariel Villariel in the first event of the day, the 1500m.
This initiated Port-of-Spain supporters to chant and sing the District 2014 Calypso Bois.
The Port-of-Spain supporters sported shirts which were labelled "Twenty Four is 'Bois,' signalling the 24th success in the last 26 years.
In the second event, North Eastern's District Jonathan Shears outran Keon Thomas of Port-of-Spain & Environs. To say Port-of-Spain and Environs dominated would be an honest statement, as the champions took top honours.
Tobago, champions in 2008 and 2009, finished second this year with 342 points, 81 points behind the polished Port-of-Spain (423) outfit. The Gunness Persad-trained Victoria Education District had their best placing in 15 years, finishing third with 320.5 points.
Port-of-Spain shot into the lead, but Tobago and Victoria were chasing throughout the day. In the end, Port-of-Spain, the zone with the fewest athletes, but the most celebrated, easily took home the crown at the 51st annual event.
Port-of-Spain and Environs athletes dominated the top awards, as both the Victor Ludorum Ethan Forde and the Victrix Ludorum Caliyah Wallace hailed from the winning district. Wallace won all three of her races: the Under-13 100m, 200m and 400m, clocking 12:87, 26:45 and 1:02:30 respectively, earning her the overall Under-13 Girls' champion trophy in addition to Victrix Ludorum.
In a similar feat of speed and endurance, Ethan Forde placed first in the Under-13 Boys 100m in 11:98, which signified that he was able to get under 13 seconds in the sprint event. He also took the 200m in 25:17 and won the 400m with 59:60. He was bestowed with the honour of Under-13 Boys' champion as well as the coveted Victor Ludorum title. Speaking about Port-of-Spain's winning streak, head coach of Port-of-Spain, Abeyola Akowe said: "Our district's continuous success is team oriented and must be attributed to hard work by all involved. This has been a challenging year for all and sport has been hardest hit. Many of our principals, teachers and volunteers have a passion for the sport and do it for the right reasons.
"The Port-of-Spain team has continuously improved and developed, maintaining its top position in the competition because of the dedication of the coaches and students. For this I thank them and look forward to 2015, when we will be seeking to land our 25th victory from 27 years.
At the end, Port-of-Spain, won the most gold (17), silver (13) and bronze (eight) medals; 38 in total. Tobago (12-11-7) finished second; Victoria (2-8-11) third; Caroni (6-8-6) fourth; North East (5-6-7) fifth; St Patrick (5-5-7) sixth; St George East (3-6-5) seventh and South East (7-0-6) eighth.
results
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1. Port-of-Spain and Environs 423
2. Tobago 342
3. Victoria 320.50
4. North East 272
5. Caroni 253
6. St Patrick 244.50
7. St George East 210
8. South East 197
Victor Ludorum
U-9: Jaydon Bartholomew (Caroni)
U-11: Kevon McKenna (Tobago)
U-13: Ethan Forde (PoS)
Victrix
U-9: Janae De Gannes (Tobago)
U-11: Vanessa Stephen (St George East)
U-13: Caliyah Wallace (PoS)
Select results–
Girls–Open–1500m run
1. Zakiya Williams (PoS)–5:51.57
2. Ariel Villariel (Tobago)–6:03.14
3. Ashakie Hagley (St George's East)–6:23.22
1500m walk
1. Cequanna Clovis (St George East)–9:57.56
2. Shahedah Thomas (PoS)–10:09.79
3. Abby Suraj (Victoria)–10:13.74
U-9: 4x100m relay
1. Victoria–1:07.28
2. St George's East–1:07.40
3. South East–1:25.51
U-11: 100m dash
1. Vanessa Stephen (St George East)–13.98
2. Xea Bruce (N/E)–14.06
3. Renesha Andrews (PoS)–14.10
200m dash
1. Xea Bruce (North East)–28.75
2. Karessa Kirton (PoS)–30.62
3. Kadija Pickering (St George East)–30.83
300m dash
1. Vanessa Stephen (St George East)–48.14
2. Tenika Edwards (Tobago)–50.44
3. Kanessa Thompson (Victoria)–52.31
4x100m relay
1. PoS–58.28
2. St George East–1:00.01
3. St Patrick–1:00.12
U-13: 100m
1. Caliyah Wallace (PoS)–12.87
2. Gabriella Walters (Victoria)–13.10
3. Twanna Homeward (N/E)–13.18.
200m
1. Caliyah Wallace (PoS)–26.45
2. Twanna Homeward (North East)–26.86
3. Shanika Ashby (Tobago)–27.32
400m
1. Caliyah Wallace (PoS)–1:02.30
2. Malika Coutain (St Patrick)–1:06.16
3. Kerneil Waldron (St George East)–1:06.36
4x100m relay
1. PoS–52.84,
2 St Patrick–54.52,
3 St George's East–54.68
13-15: 200m dash
1. Joanna Rogers (PoS)–27.17
2. Aaliyah Adams (Caroni)–28.04
3. Christine Alexander (St Patrick)–28.38
400m dash
1. Aaliyah Adams (Caroni)–1:03. 85
2. Blosson Swift (PoS)–1:04.36
3. Christine Alexander (St Patrick)–1:05.83
800m Sprint Medley
1. PoS–1:58.45,
2. Tobago–2:05.71
3. St George East–2:08.57
Boys: Open: 1500m walk
1. Christopher Brereton (S/E)–9:45.77
2. Joshua Forbes (Victoria)–9:45.79
3. Daniel Lendor (St Patrick)–9:45.85
1500m run
1. Johnathan Shears (N/E)–5:00.54,
2. Keon Thomas (PoS)–5:01.84,
3. Isaiah Brathwaite (Tobago)–5:23.88
U-9: 60m dash
1. Jaydon Bartholomew (Caroni)–8.93,
2. Tyriek Forbes (Tobago)–9.35,
3. McKell Ottway (St Patrick)–9.83
100m dash
1. Jaydon Bartholomew (Caroni)–14.41,
2. Kal-el Johnson (St George East)–14.66
3. Josiah Banfield (Victoria)–15.23
4 x 100m relay
1. Tobago–1:04.46
2. Victoria–1:07.55
3. North East–1:07.70
U-11: 100m dash
1. Kevon McKenna (Tobago)–13.24
2. Jarvon Westfield (PoS)–13.86
3. Aaron Antoine (Caroni)–13.99
200m dash
1. Jarvon Westfield (PoS)–28.50
2. Rekem Riley (St George East)–29.16
3. Aaron Rodriguez (Caroni)–30.39
300m dash
1. Kevon McKenna (Tobago)–43.40
2. Stephon Guerra (St George East)–46.57
3. Michael Jack (PoS)–46.92
4x100m relay
1. Victoria–56.76
2. Caroni–58.95
3. North East–1:00.49
Under-13: 100m dash
1. Ethan Forde (PoS)–11.98
2. Ayele Joseph (Victoria)–12.72
3. Devin Augustine (St Patrick)–12.84