Primary Champs is back with new format
Published:Wednesday | April 20, 2022 | 12:09 AM
THE INSTITUTE of Sports (INSPORTS) Primary Schools Athletics Championships makes a return to the local calendar after a two-year absence with a new regional format, culminating with a grand finale inside the National Stadium on May 26.
The popular and much-anticipated Primary Schools Championships were last held in 2019 and Minister of Gender, Culture, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange said the absence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic “has been too long”.
“Gentle people, let’s welcome back the INSPORTS Primary Schools Athletics Championships after a two-year hiatus forced upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Grange at the launch, held at the Hospitality Room at the National Stadium yesterday.
The championships will be split into regional competitions, starting with the Eastern Championship from May 2-4 at the Stadium East facility, followed by Central Championship from May 9-11 at the G.C. Foster College. The Western Championship will be held between May 12-14 at the St Elizabeth High School.
The competition will have a big National Championship from May 26-28 inside the National Stadium. Approximately 120 schools will participate.
“The Government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars, as the championships have proven to be a fantastic development arena for many athletes in the form of World and Olympic 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; Olympic and World 400m hurdles champion Melanie Walker; Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir; 2008 Olympic 100m silver and 200m bronze medallist Kerron Stewart; Carifta Games under-17 200m champion and record-holder Jazeel Murphy; 2007 World Youth 200m champion Ramone McKenzie, and many others,” the minister pointed out.
She added: “More recently, precious talents, such as 2015 World Youth Athletics 400m champion Christopher Taylor, Tyreke Wilson, Raheem Chambers, and, currently, one of the hottest young stars around in Brianna Lyston of Hydel High, have all participated at these championships.”
Following the regional championships, the top eight athletes with the best performances in their events will make the finals at the National Championship.
“The INSPORTS Primary Athletics Championships is all about providing a track and field platform with a view of identifying talents at the earliest possible stage and channelling them through a structured programme for national and international representation, and we have done that quite well,” said Grange.