By: St Clair Sazam Hull
Nevis Pages.com
(CHARLESTOWN NEVIS)-The much anticipated Gulf Insurance Inter Primary School Championship conducted at the E.T. Willett Park on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, generated its usual excitement and galore.
Persons gathered in abundance, at the grounds of Nevis’ first Test Cricketer in order to witness the most thrilling event on the island. Many decorated in distinct colours, to show advocacy for their choice of schools.
The athletes of the various schools, showed exuberance and enthusiasm amidst the scorching weather. The meet began with the 400 meters and the Ivor Walters primary School, formerly known as Prospect Primary looked ominous from the inception. However, the Charlestown Primary School was not prepared to be subservient or obsequious to anyone and they emerged ahead after the first round with a total of 30 points. Ivor Walters Primary was in second place with 25 points and for a brief moment, the rivalry both schools once shared was seemingly emerging again.
One of the highlights, of the meet was the showdown between Carlon Tuckett of The Maude Crosse Preparatory School and Akadianto Willett who represented the Charlestown Primary School. Willett, who was defeated by Tuckett in 2012, was determined to redeem himself. The first encounter was the 400 meters and Willett ran an excellent race to finish ahead of the pack causing Carlon to be distraught. But being the fierce competitor he is, Tuckett came back in the 200 meters and successfully outperformed his opponents including Willett. As he crossed the finish line, he characteristically beat his chest in celebration. Willett was absent from last year’s meet due to an ailment.
As the meet progressed, so did the points for the Charlestown Primary School and at the halfway stage victory already seemed inevitable. The St. Thomas’ Primary School, who entered the meet as joint champions did not performed as brilliantly as many had expected and the Jocelyn Liburd Primary failed to attain the magnanimous heights similar to 2010 when they won the championship. The Elizabeth Pemberton Primary School had little to shout about, but one of their athletes Alexandra Richards, exhibited a memorable performance. She was victorious in the 800, 400 and 200 meters; Richards also won the silver medal in the 100 meters, narrowly losing out to Kurvella Wallace of the Charlestown Primary School.
At the end of last year’s event, there was pandemonium at the venue as to who had won the championship. This time around, the Charlestown Primary School ensured that the conclusion surpassed argument and examination by putting quite a bit of daylight between themselves and second place, by amassing one hundred and ninety one (191) points.
The St. Thomas’ Primary School captured the second spot, with a total of one hundred and forty five (145) points, while Joycelyn Liburd Primary and Ivor Walters Primary were third and fourth with one hundred and forty one (141) and one hundred and thirty four (134) points respectively.