Returning to the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground for the first time in four years, Vide Bouteille Primary School brought great energy and excitement with them for their annual track meet on Tuesday, February 3. There was also an air of familiarity, as Egret took the title for the third successive year.
Behind Nathan St Rose, Amelia Willie, and Krishel Michael, Egret tallied 426 points, well clear of Carib Grackle on 375. Vireo compiled 342 points to finish third, and Quail were fourth with 256.
St Rose and Willie dominated despite moving up to new age groups. Rose captured the Under-13 boys’ division, while Willie and Michael shared the Under-11 girls’ title.
St Rose and housemate Ayden Joseph battled throughout the event. Joseph won the 150m in 20.80 seconds, a huge improvement from last year, with St Rose finishing third. However, St Rose won the 80m in 10.90 seconds, edging Joseph, and added the 300m crown in 48.90 seconds, again beating Joseph by a split-second. Jean-Neil Felix won the 600m in 2:10.40 for Carib Grackle, and Jeremiah Williams ran 4:56.80 in the 1200m for Quail.
Among the Under-13 girls’, Quail’s Rebecca Stanislaus prevailed in a three-way fight for honours with fellow teammate Alexia Monrose and Vireo’s Amiya Khodra, the Under-11 champion last year. Stanislaus won the 1000m (4:09.10) and the 300m (53.40) and was third in the 600m.
Khodra, second in the 300m and 80m, won the 600 in 2:09.20, with Monrose taking silver. Monrose won the 150m (23.40), and was third in the 300. Egret’s Nellia Matthew won the 80m in 11.60, ahead of Khodra.
Willie and Michael shared the four individual gold medals on offer in their class. Michael won the 300m (1:01.40) and 600m (2:31.70), both ahead of teammate Kazianna Deany. Willie won the 80m (12.70) and 150m (24.50), with Deany second in the 80m.
Among the Under-11 boys’, Akan Hippolyte had three gold medals, winning the 80m (11.80), 150m (22.50), and 300m (53.40) for Vireo, holding off Jashawn Leonty of Egret for two of those wins. Joshua Emmanuel took the 600m (2:12.30) in that division for Egret.
In the Under-9 boys’, Kevian Adonis only got a bronze medal on the day, but his victory in the cricket ball throw earned him top spot in his division. Ashton Smith won the 60m (10.60) and Jahmiel Joseph the 150m (26.60), both for Carib Grackle. Second in the 150m last year, Nefertari Matthew won in 26.80 for Egret, ahead of Carib Grackle’s Cataleya Aleius. Aleius won the 60m in 10.60 seconds to take the age-group victory.
Despite the change of venue, principal Lyrill Arthur-Stanislaus was delighted that the families of the young student-athletes came out in their numbers.
“We are so happy, because when we look out, and we see the parents, it speaks volumes of the amount of support we at Vide Bouteille are getting. The parents who took the day off, who brought their siblings with them, just to ensure that their children represented Vide Bouteille Primary with discipline and pride.
“When we talk about the holistic child, we just want to encourage our students to be the very best that they can be. There are those who can achieve so much academically, but then we have the children who, this is what they love, this is what they strive for every single day. So we are so proud to have them run their races today, and represent their houses, and we wish them well,” Arthur-Stanislaus said.
