Port-of-Spain and Environs Education District retained its title at the 50th Atlantic-sponsored National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Wednesday.The district registered its fourth victory from as many years when it amassed 459.5 points with 152 points coming in the last eight track events, particularly the relays. Port-of-Spain reeled off five wins before "blotting" their paper in the boys under-13 relay in which St Patrick spoiled the party. Tobago, winners in 2008 and 2009, finished second with 371 points, while St Patrick was third with 343, followed by North East (317.5), Caroni (283), St George East (261), Victoria (241.5) and South East (190.5), respectively.
It was not smooth sailing for Port-of-Spain beginning the day on a sour note when its march past team finished seventh in the traditional parade of teams. The boys from Mucurapo Boys RC had to be consoled after the results were announced.Emerging the winner was St Patrick Education District.Garnet Antoine of Caroni was adjudged the top boys competitor, having gathered 26 points, with four athletes sharing second spot with 20 points–Raheem Lockhart of St George East, Elijah John of Port-of-Spain, Devin Augustine of St Patrick and Victoria's Adel Colthrust.There was a four-way tie for the top girls prize, with Shaniqua Bascombe of Port-of-Spain, Kerneil Waldron (St George East), Shevorn Persaud (Victoria) and Janae Degans of Tobago, each tallying 26 points.
Antoine won the boys 13-15 400 metres in 53.83 seconds, with Aaron Caesar of St Patrick (56.62) in and Dionys Carrington of Tobago (58.29) in third. However, Antoine placed second in two races–the boys 13-15 200m in 24.49, trailing Colthrust who ran 23.47, while Jonah Gordon of Port-of-Spain was third in 25.10; and the boys 13-15 100m, with a time of 11.91, as Colthrust prevailed in 11.36 while Gordon was third in 12.12.Maraval speedster Bascombe triumphed in the girls under-11 100m in 14.06, ahead of Waldron (14.25) and Claudine Antoine of Caroni (14.47); and the girls U-11 200m in 30.31, with Antoine (30.46) and Kaylene Swan of St George East (31.13), second and third, respectively.
Bascombe finished third in the girls U-11 300m in 48.76, behind Waldron (46.71) and Shernicah Sergeant of Tobago (48.25).Persaud took gold in the girls 13-15 shot put (9.29 metres), with Allia Friday of North East (8.39m) and Kenisha Gordon of South East (7.78m) behind.Earlier on the track, North Eastern lass Aaliyah Michell gave her district the first gold medal when she ran away from Port-of-Spain's Keishana Romeo and Tobago's Shayleeya Trim in the opening 1,500 metres event.In the boys version, Caroni's Jamie Fowler pulled clear from 150 metres out to win convincingly from Shylen Trancoso of North Eastern and Fidel Edwards of Port-of-Spain, trailing.
Port-of-Spain's Makeda Edward was force to play second-fiddle to Tobago U-9 athlete Janae Degannes. Elijah John gave Port-of-Spain supporters something to cheer about, winning the next event for the U-9 boys over 60 metres.Mackenzy Baptiste of South Eastern Education District gave her supporters something to shout about before St Patrick's Jabari Fox edged Shakeel John of Port-of-Spain in the U-13 boys 100m final.In the girls U-9 age group, Tobago's Degans whipped the field in the 60m in 9.43, ahead of Makida Edwards of Port-of-Spain (9.69) and Celine St Clair of St Patrick (9.80); and the 100m in 15.61, with Shinnelle Mark of St Patrick (15.86) and Sierra Joseph of Victoria (15.98) next.But she was third in the long jump with 3.01m, behind Naomi Pierce of Port-of-Spain (3.87m) and St Clair (3.56m).At the end of the day, Port-of-Spain and Environs walked away with the national title for the 23rd time in 25 years.
