Wed | Sep 27, 2023

Naggo Head clinch fifth-straight title

Published:Tuesday | May 14, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Naggo Head Primary School's Shauntia Davidson (left) and Natsuya Chance celebrate their one-two finish in the girls high jump Open, at the INSPORTS/Swizzzle Primary Schools' Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last Thursday. The duo tied with a leap of 1.40 metres. Naggo Head stormed back after a slow start at the championships to secure their fifth-straight title. Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
From left: Maleeka Thomas, Tia McMaster, Rashma Myers, Abigail Palmer and Brenna McLean from champions school Naggo Head Primary pose for a photo during the INSPORTS/Swizzle Primary Athletics Championships at the National Stadium. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
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KINGSTON:

Naggo Head produced a late surge to clinch their fifth-straight primary champs title in dramatic fashion, bringing a climactic end to the 33rd INSPORTS/Seprod Primary School Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday's final day.

Having trailed Greater Portmore on the penultimate day and throughout most of the last day Naggo Head finally overtook Greater Portmore, with four events remaining.

At one point, the Floyd Coke-coached Naggo Head trailed by as many as 29 points, but they ended up winning by 25.5 points after amassing 192 points.

New Providence also had a late kick on the final day, as they finished strongly to claim second with 166.50 points. Greater Portmore faded into third with 159.

Coke had said the relays would have been crucial to retaining their title and so it proved, as they finished higher than their rivals on most occasions.

Tattyanna Palmer of New Providence shattered the Class Two girls 300m on a day when few records were established.

Palmer ran a blistering 43.57 seconds to erase Nataliah Whyte's 2008 mark of 44.41seconds, beating Roshae Whyte of St. Francis, who also dipped below the old record with 44.40.

There were several double winners, including Time and Patience's John Vernon, who sealed the Class One boys 100m and 200m double in 11.97 and 24.98 seconds, respectively, twice having to stave off the challenge of Ewarton's Taiwane Garriques.

Joined the elite

Despite the predictions of many, Vernon did not trouble Raje Ferron's meet record in the 100m, but he joined an elite group of double sprint champions in the 33-year history of these championships.

Another double winner on the day was Rosea-Lee Cooper of New Providence, who took the Class One girls 100m and 200m.

Cooper, in her final year at this level, clocked 12.84 to win the 100m. In the 200m she showed greater superiority, winning in 26.58 seconds, more than a full second ahead of Hillside's Malaka Cato, who clocked 27.70 for silver.

Other noted winners were Shanti Moore, the Class Two girls 100m and 200m champion; Gabrielle Matthews, Class Three sprint-double champion; and boys' long jump Open champion, Wayne Pinnock, who captured the 70m hurdles Open in 10.97 seconds.