Excelsior win double

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Excelsior Pre-Primary strategically accumulated points on yesterday's second and final day of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Basic Schools' Athletics Championship held at the National Stadium en route to a successfully defence of their title.

The Mountain View-based school was represented in all but four of the 25 finals contested on the closing day, which saw them steadily amassing points. They ended the championships with 201 points with Citizens Advice Bureau (RJR), (132) finishing second. The top-five was rounded out by St Francis Infant (100), Elim Early Childhood Centre (91) and Silverstone Basic (81).

The defending champions also walked away with the two sectional prizes, topping the female and male points standings with Citizens Advice Bureau having to settle for second in both categories.

Coach Albert Myles who was winning his seventh consecutive championship, following five triumphs with Elim Early Childhood Centre between 2004 and 2008 before joining Excelsior last year, was naturally pleased with yet another victory.

"It is always good to make a repeat because sometimes when it is a one-off victory people tend to think that you were just being lucky, so when you can actually repeat, that shows that you are doing something good," said Myles.

He attributed this year's success to the performance of his Class-One team.

"Definitely the Class-One team, the Class Two and Three teams only had two individual races plus the relay, but the Class-One had four individual races plus two relays, so the Class-One team had the bulk of the work and I think they came through when it was needed most."

The Class-One team proved their worth by copping the girls' 4x50m relay in a time of 36.58 seconds, St Francis Infant, 36.98, took the silver; with the bronze going to Alvernia Prep, 37.98. The Class-One boys also captured their 4x50m relay race, posting 34.00 seconds flat. Second went to St Francis Infant, 34.69, with Covenant Christian Academy, 35.58, taking third.

Excelsior Pre-Primary also swept the 4x100m relay opens; the girls took their event with a time of 1:13.08. Elim Early Childhood, 1:13.10, was second, while third went to Harvest Temple Basic, 1:13.99. The boys equivalent was won in a time of 1:08.22 with Citizens Advice Bureau (RJR), 1:10.68, capturing second and St Francis Infant, 1:11.19, third.

Meet director Sylvester Falconer believes the meet should be fun for the young athletes.

"It should be fun for them and (allow) them to learn something about track and field so that when they move on four to five years from now into the primary schools or the prep schools, they will know how to handle the whole situation."