Inevitably, as the Gulf Insurance Interprimary athletics championship for 2019, peaked with the final event for the day, the 4×400 meters relay open for boys, it was Orange leading the way to the finish line.
The defending champions, Charlestown Primary, ended the day, just the way they started it—blowing away the competition.
Invariably, the other schools gave it their all and there was a point in the contest, when St. Thomas’ Primary may have been harbouring thoughts of a sneak up, but the CPS lads and lasses would have none of it.
All of the schools and all of the athletes gave it their all. New kids on the block, Nevis Academy, even picked up one or two significant medals. So too did St. James’ Primary.
However, when the CPS team was not collecting gold medals, they were generally in the mix with either a silver or Bronx and the points kept adding up.
All of the age categories saw athletes constantly testing their skills against one another and they must be heartily commended for putting on a great show, for a bumper crowd, which was estimated to be even bigger than recent years.
There was even the funny side to the whole thing, as one little athlete lost a shoe in the 60 meters race and turned back to pick it up and completed the race walking, with shoe in hand.
Another athlete while under starter’s orders, bolted away from the pack before the signal from the starter and as everyone watched on in shock, made an urgent beeline to the bathroom.
It was a lot of noise; hair sprayed in various colours; costumes and yes the signature attires.
It all blended to make a marvelous day, which at one point was threatened by inclement weather, but it held up sufficiently for the CPS team to make their lap of honour and place their hands once again on the grand trophy.
Congratulations are in order for the Ministries of Education and Sports and their hard working teams, ably coordinated by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kevin Barrett.
Kudos also to Meet Director Garfield Virgo and all of the officials on the day, who helped to make the event the grand success that it was.
Final points:
Charlestown Primary- 218 points –A zone champions and overall champions
St. Thomas’ Primary- 184 points
Joycelyn Liburd Primary- 138 points
Ivor Walters Primary- 131 points
Elizabeth Pemberton Primary- 69 points-B zone champions for 9th consecutive year
Maude Cross Preparatory – 52 points
VOJN Primary- 48 points
Nevis Academy 18 points
St. James’ Primary 15 points