Naggo Head hold slim lead over St Benedict's

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Naggo Head and St Benedict's are locked in a very close battle going into today's final day of the four-day Institute of Sports (INSPORTS)/ Swizzzle Primary Schools Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium.

After four completed finals - two yesterday - Naggo Head lead the standings with 25 points, three ahead of St Benedict's, on 22. They are followed by Spanish Town (16), St Patrick's (15), New Providence (10), Portsmouth, Bridgeport and Angels (nine each), Morant Bay (seven) and Ensom City (six), which round out the top 10.

Despite facing stiff competition from their rivals, Quesoma Miller, coach of Naggo Head, is confident. "We are very optimistic about retaining our title because we're expecting to win all the relays and we also have a strong team in the hurdles events," said Miller.

"However, we also have to maintain our focus and discipline because we don't want our athletes to get overconfident and forget what they are supposed to do on the track."

In one final, Jerado James of Naggo Head captured the high jump with a leap of 1.55m. Lushane Wilson of Angels, who also cleared (1.55m), was second, while Roshawne Dawkins, also from Angels, finished third with a jump of 1.50m.

Delighted with first gold medal

James was delighted to have won his first gold medal at the championships.

"I feel overwhelmed because I trained very hard to win this," said James, who said he would like to attend Wolmer's Boys - which won at Boys and Girls' Champs this year - after he leaves Naggo Head.

"I know from that start that I was going to win because my technique was a lot better than the other boy," said the 12-year-old, who is an admirer of Olympian and former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell.

St Patrick's Cian Smith easily won the other final, the boys' long jump, leaping 4.78m to finish ahead of Davian Brown of Morant Bay (4.51m), while Subrena Hearne of St Benedict's (4.49m) ended third. Action starts at 9:30 a.m. today and 34 finals are scheduled.