Former champions Diego Martin Government is attempting to turn back the clock, as they look to dethrone champions Diamond Vale Government in the Boys and Girls category of the Port-of-Spain & Environs Education West Zones Milo Games.The games will be held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on March 11 and Diego Martin Government, under sportsmaster Nathaniel Thomas, will seek to ensure they register their third lien on the championship trophy.Diego Martin Government have shot into the lead after the Field Events took place last Wednesday at St Mary's College Ground and hold a ten-point advantage over Diamond Vale Government in the boys category, while having an 11-point advantage in the girls category.
The perennial champions of the West B Zone, Diamond Vale Government will have to come from behind to stop Diego Martin Government from winning this year. However, after a very good showing at the track heats two weeks ago, Caliyah Wallace of Diamond Vale must look to guide the ship home, as she looks to be the most exciting prospect at the games and likely to take all the beating at championship.Former champion Petit Valley Girls RC looks to be on their way back as their athletes performed with distinction last week and with Melissa Boxhill and Blossom Swift likely to dominate the under-15 girls category. La Puerta Primary School have shown a distinct move to the top and are challenging for championship honours.In the West A Zone, 13-times champions Carenage Girls have clawed their back to the top after the field events and now lead Maraval RC School and Dunross Preparatory Private School in what looks like a battle royale come March 11. Carenage Girls now hold a slender advantage with their points standing of 30, two more than arch-rivals Maraval RC, with Dunross five points further back in third. Some other school has now come into the fray as Point Cumana RC, Point Cumana Govt and Cocorite have made ground towards the leaders.
In the boys category, champions Carenage Boys Government hold a slight four-point advantage over Maraval RC with Dunross Preparatory School which entered the Port of Spain & Environs Education West Zones Milo Games seven years ago, 15 points adrift in third.Abeyola Akowe stated that she has no intention of relinquishing the girls' championship trophy and her words could prove to be prophetic.A total of 21 schools will compete at this years Milo Track and Field Games.The participating schools have been separated in two groups–West A and West B.The West A schools are Carenage Boys Government, Carenage Girls Government, Cocorite Government, Dunross Private School, International School of Port-of-Spain, La Seiva RC, Maraval RC, Paramin RC, Point Cumana Government, Point Cumana RC and St Michael's School for Boys.
The games were launched last week at the Harvard Sports Club in St James, with a number of speakers, including Kelvin Nancoo, chairman of the West Zones Organising Committee and chairman of the Port-of-Spain and Environs Sports Council; Brian Lewis, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC); Stacy Ann Charles, consumer marketing manager of Nestle Trinidad and Tobago; and Zhada Nathai-Baboolal, schools supervisor at the Ministry of Education.Over the past 26 years, the games have provided an opportunity for potential athletic talent from the north-west region of Trinidad to flourish.World 400-metre hurdles king Jehue Gordon is the most illustrious name to compete at the Milo Games, while a number of national athletes also shone at the games, including Michelle Lee Ahye, Simon Pierre, Fana Ashby and Cleavon Dillon.
MILO GAMES FIELD EVENT RESULTS
WEST B
Under-9 Girls Long Jump
1. Mahalia Nottingham (DMG); 2. Abigail Burton (DVG); 3. Faith Lavia (PVGRC); 4. Sorajah Wiggins (PVGRC)
Under-9 Boys Long Jump
1. Tyrell Springer (DVG); 2. Kareem Sanchez (DMG); 3. Miguel Gittens (LAP); 4. Tahir Singh (DVG)
Under-11 Girls Long Jump
1. Reneisha Mc Keachnie (DMG); 2. Karisma Garcia (DMG); 3. Dominique Stuart (DVG); 4. Cristen Pompey (DMG)
Under-11 Boys Long Jump
1. Kayshawn Hodginson (DMG); 2. Jovanni Haywood (LAP); 3. Jeremiah Letren (LAP); 4. Elijah Weekes (DVG)
Under-13 Girls Long Jump
1. Maria Serrant (DVG); 2. Peneil John (DMG); 3. Shavonne Jacob (LAP); 4. Tahrain Beepat (DVG)
Under-13 Boys Long Jump
1. Shema Seales (DVG); 2. Kareem Stephenson (DMG); 3. Sidion Holder (DVG); 4. Tishean Russell (LAP)