Defending champions Naggo Head Primary on 27 points held a slim, two-point lead over Lyssons Primary after six finals of the INSPORTS Primary Schools Athletics Championships.

With just today’s final left to go, the champions will be looking to hold off the challenge of the rest of the field that sees Harbour View in third on 23, St Johns fourth on 22, and Rousseau and Portsmouth tied in fifth place on 18 points.

Jemarie Thomas of St Johns Primary wrote his name into the record books when he shattered the old record of 62.80m in the cricket ball throw Open.

Struggling with a bruised toe on his final throw after another competitor stepped on his bare foot, Thomas hurled the ball 64.40m, despite the discomfort and won the event by more than 4m. Kwesi Reece of George Headley was second with 60.06m, while Leon Rhone of St Benedict was third with 58.29m.

Earlier in the day, St Francis Primary were the first to strike gold as Terrica Francis lived up to expectations and won the long jump Open with a distance of 4.80m. Kayla Haughton of Rousseau was second with 4.73m, while Kristian Watson of Naggo Head, who won silver in the high jump on day two, won the bronze with a distance of 4.49m.

Tavian Wilson of Port Morant took gold in the most competitive event, the boys’ high jump Open. Seven athletes topped out at 1.45m, but Wilson prevailed on countback. Dominic Henry of Belmont Park, Adrian Reid of Clan Carthy, and Ricaldo Williams of St Johns were all credited with second place. Chavez Penn was fifth, Tajay Bhoorasingh sixth, Kaleel Samuel seventh, and Lebron Mayne eighth with 1.40m.

The Class One girls’ 400m promises to be something special when Tyona Nelson of Friendship Park, who ran 1:03.76 minutes, Micah Mohan of Naggo Head, who was restored to the event after initially being disqualified and ran 1:03.39 minutes, and Terrica Francis of St Francis, who has the fastest time in the semi-final of 1:02.02 minutes, lock horns. Francis will have her hands full with Nelson and Mohan, but will feel confident that she can land gold.

The Class One boys’ 400m should be just as entertaining as Princewell Martin of Clan Carthy with 59.53 seconds is the only athlete to go below the one-minute mark heading into the final. He ran a very controlled race to win semi-final one, but the tall and rangy Kai Patrick of Pembroke Hall and Rojay Thomas of Lawrence Tavern will push him to the tape for the gold medal. Martin, who also runs the 200m, will have greater top-end speed, but the 200m/400m double maay take a toll on him.

The Class Two girls’ 300m promises to be competitive, but Sasha Shunta Hemmings of Belmont Park will be hard to beat. The Class Two boys’ 300m will see Nicardo Johnson of Spanish Town start as favourite and he will be expected to claim a big nine points for his school.

Princewell Martin goes into the Class One boys’ 200m final with the fourth-fastest time of 26.29 seconds, but after a night of rest will be ready to take on the task against the trio of Joshua Lewis of Rousseau — who goes in with the fastest time of 25.89 seconds, Jay-zyre Turner of Southborough (26.00) and Daniel Gayle of St Francis Primary (26.10). Martin has shown great maturity in pacing himself through the rounds of the 200m and 400m, and will be hunting double individual gold on today’s last day.

Kyshel Hoolong of Spanish Town was almost a second better than the field in the Class One girls’ 200m semi-finals, and will be in a no-nonsense mood with the gold medal on the line. Mohan will be another athlete eyeing the 200m/400m double, but may find it difficult against a very competitive field.

The Class Two event for both classes will be very competitive, with no clear favourites going into the final.

The Class One boys’ 100m final looks to be a straight showdown between Lewis and Turner, with very little separating the two tall sprinters. Lewis has registered better times in the semi-finals of both the 100m and 200m, and will believe he has the edge on his rival.

There will be 35 finals on the fourth and final day, which will be closed by the 4x200m.

— Dwayne Richards