SIX new schools are among the 69 schools that will compete at this year’s Insports Swizzzle Primary Schools Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on May 4, 6, 7 and 8 beginning at 9:00 am each day.

Cassava River, Ewarton, Golden Valley, Horizon Park, Top Jackson, and Time and Patience Primary have joined the likes of defending champions Naggo Head and former winners St Benedict’s over the four days of competition, which was launched yesterday at the Hilton Hotel in Kingston.

Neither school was present at the launch as they were said to be in training for the Championships.

While the event will be held over four days, there will be a break on Wednesday, May 5, which is recognised nationally as Teacher’s Day, which National Sports Co-ordinator Glen Mills said is a mark of respect for school teachers.

The event, which began in 1981, has produced the likes of World and Olympic champions Shelly Ann Fraser and Melaine Walker, Carifta Games double gold medallist Jazeel Murphy and 2007 World Youth 200m champion Ramone McKenzie.

Thirty-six events will be contested in four classes: Under-8, Under-10, Under-11 and Under-12 in the Boys and Girls 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x200m Open,

Meanwhile, Seprod’s Sales and Marketing Manager Marcia Kitson-Walters said the company, the parent group of sponsors Swizzzle, has contributed $2 million in sponsorship this year and would provide breakfast for the athletes on each day of competition.

The Insports Primary Schools Athletics Championship began as a Sports Day with five schools at the then CAST, now University of Technology (UTech).