By: Curtis Morton
Head coach of the Nevis Teachers’ Union representative Primary schools’ athletic team, Kurvin Wallace, is adamant that his team members performed well in the recent inter island primary schools’ championship.
The meet was held on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the prestigious Kim Collins Stadium in St.Kitts and saw the top Primary school athletes from St.Kitts and Nevis, matching their skills.
The children competed in field events which included the long jump; high jump and cricket ball throw and then took to the track to compete in the 100; 200; 400; 800; 4×100 and 4×400 meters events, among other races.
Over 150 athletes from the Primary schools in St.Kitts and Nevis participated in the event.
Among those speaking at the brief opening ceremony that preceded the meet, was the President of the St.Kitts Teachers’ Union, Ron Collins who referred to the event as a celebration of friendship.
Also delivering remarks was the Junior Minister of Sports in the Nevis Island Administration, Hon Hazel Brandy-Williams who noted that persons always wondered when there would be an inter island interprimary championships.
‘It’s here now and it’s here to stay,’ she stated.
Minister of Sports in the Federal cabinet, Hon Shawn Richards declared meet open. ‘It will be a day of successes and failures; a day for making memories and demonstrating sportsmanship,’ he said in his remarks.
In the final analysis, team St.Kitts, representing the St.Kitts Teachers’ Union, won quite handsomely. The medal count was as follows:
Team St.Kitts-39 golds; 31 silver and 31 bronze medals—total of 101 medals
Team Nevis—5 golds; 12 silver and 13 bronze medals—total of 31 medals
Two of the outstanding performers for the Nevis Teachers’ Union team were:
Taquani Roberts- gold in the 200 and 400 meters
Tianna Liburd— gold in the 400 and 800 meters
The top athletes were as follows:
Victor Ludorum—Mitchel Richards—St.Kitts Teachers’ Union with 36 points
Victrix Ludorum—Asamya Dolphin with 40 points
Under 9 male winner—Shaquil Alexander—NTU—16 points
Under 11 male winner—Mitchel Richards—36 points
2nd place-Taquani Roberts—NTU
Under 13 male winner-Kadil Roberts-SKTU-30 points
Under 9 female winner-Adaxa Burkley-SKTU-30 points
Under 11 female winner—Asamya Dolphin SKTU—40 points
Joint second place—Kiana Rawlins—SKTU and Tianna Liburd NTU with 30 points each
Under 13 female winner—Tisanna Rawlins- SKTU-30 points
2nd place—Jaquil Weekes-NTU-26 points
In speaking to the media, a few days after the event, Coach Wallace lamented the fact that the Nevisian athletes do not have a top track to practice on but indicated that even though their performance was not as good as what he saw at the Nevis Inter primary event, that he knew they gave it their all.
He also noted that some of the Nevisian spectators were pretty close to the action as the athletes competed and made very critical remarks which probably intimidated the athletes.
He is of the view that next year’s event should be held in Nevis and is looking forward to the day when Nevis will boast of an all weather track for the local athletes.
He congratulated the winning St.Kitts team but noted that his athletes could only get better for the experience.