Sport

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Naggo Head successfully defended their Institute of Sports (Insports)-Swizzzle Primary Schools Track and Field Championships title at the National Stadium yesterday.

Naggo Head amassed 156 points finishing ahead of New Providence (95), St Catherine (77), Spanish Town (74), Portsmouth and Friendship (72), St Benedict's and Waterford (68), Greater Portmore (56), Angels (53) and Belmont Park (49).

Floyd Coke, coach of Naggo, said he was delighted with his team's achievement because they had to work very hard for it.

"It was very difficult but we were able to score in all areas and our rivals could not, and so I think this victory was much sweeter than last year," said Coke, while giving credit to his coaching staff.

Raheem Chambers of Belmont Park and Safiya Thompson of New Providence were the most outstanding performers of the championships. Both captured the sprint double in their respective classes.

Chambers brought the packed grandstand to life when he clocked a new meet record of 24.13 seconds to win the boys' Class-One 200m which erased the previous mark of 24.58. Raje Fearon of St Francis took silver in 24.25. Dessin Taylor of Ocho Rios won the bronze in 26.41.

Chambers then returned to capture the 100m in a personal-best time of 11.98 ahead of Fearon (12.21), and Jason Nash of Harbour View (13.01). The 12-year-old Chambers, who is an admirer of Olympic 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt, said he was delighted with his efforts.

Prayers answered

"I am feeling very happy and excited to have won the sprint double here today," said Chambers. "Both races were pretty challenging but I prayed before each race and the Lord answered my prayers."

He added: "I was the champion last year (200m) and I am just very happy that I was able to defend my title," said Chambers, who added he would like to attend Calabar High after graduating from Belmont Park.

Thompson won the girls' Class-One 100m easily in 13.19 ahead of Imani Hussey of Cassava River (13.40) and Gabrielle McDonald of Port Henderson (13.63). Thompson then took the 200m in 27.02 ahead of Okhalia Buchanan of Portsmouth (27.38) and Gayon Giwene of St Benedict's (27.82).

Thompson, who also anchored her team to gold medals in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays, was also delighted with her performance at the championships.

"I am very happy because I worked hard for this," said Thompson who named St Jago High in Spanish Town as her school of choice after leaving New Providence. "I want to big up my coaches because they really helped me to win these gold medals," said the 12-year-old Thompson.

Jhair Lehosts of Habour View won the boys' Class-Two 300m in a new meet-record 42.95 seconds, erasing the previous mark of 43.36. Renaldo Pierce of Greater Portmore took silver in 43.86 and Stevon Baker of New Providence, bronze in 43.98.

Jodyann Moodie of Belmont Park took the girls' equivalent in 44.53 seconds ahead of Samoya Holness of St Catherine (44.65) and Waterford's Jody-Ann Simmonds (45.17). Jhennel Harriot of St Francis won the girls' Class-Two 200m in 28.34 ahead of Moesha Fullerton of Waterford (28.48) and Gabrianna Facey of St Catherine (28.75).