THE 30th staging of the 2010 four-day Institute of Sports (INSPORTS)/SWIZZZLE-sponsored Primary Schools Track and Field Championships which begins this morning at the National Stadium has attracted a record 69 schools across the island. The meet starts at 10:00 am.

Last year, 62 schools participated. The Primary Championships is the second largest in the island, behind the high schools’ Boys and Girls Champs equivalent.

Naggo Head of St Catherine are the defending champions who won with a combined score of 208.50 points to dethrone St Benedict’s 202 points last year. New Providence were third with 127 and Lawrence Tavern fourth with 97.

Interestingly, the eventual winner of the championships was decided in the last two races — the 4x200m relay for boys and girls. The girls section was won by Naggo Head with 122.50 points, while St Benedict’s captured the boys section with 94.

Six new schools — Ewarton, Horizon Park, Time and Patience and Top Jackson from the parish of St Catherine and Cassava River and Golden Valley from rural St Andrew — will be participating, while Ocho Rios are returning after

a break.

The other participating schools are New Providence, Lawrence Tavern, Portsmouth, Angel’s, St Patrick’s, Belmont Park, Spanish Town, St Catherine, Alpha, Ascot, Balmagie, Bridgeport, Chetolah Park, Clan Carthy, Craighton, Drews Avenue, Dupont, Duhaney Park, Eltham Park, Ensom City, Excelsior, Friendship, George Headley, Greater Portmore, Gregory Park, Golden Spring, Half-Way-Tree, Harbour View,

Holy Family, Holy Rosary, Independence City, Iris Gelly, Jack’s Hill, Jericho, Jessie Ripoll, Jones Town, Marlie Mount, Maxfield Park, McCauley, Mona Heights, Morant Bay, Mount Fletcher, North Street, Pembroke Hall, Port Henderson, Port

Royal, Rollington Town, Seaview Gardens, Simon, Southborough, St Anne’s, St Francis, St John’s, St Peter Claver, St Richard’s, St Aloysious, Tavares Gardens and Waterford.