DEFENDING champions Excelsior will be in search for another triumph as the 8th annual staging of the INSPORTS two-day Basic Schools Championships gets underway today at the National Stadium, starting at 9:00 am.

Twenty-five Basic Schools will be participating in this year’s championships.

Last year heavy rain prevented the finals to take place on the last day of competition and it was decided to apply the time-final ruling. The fastest eight times done in the heats were used with Excelsior, who had qualified in majority of the finals, turned out the winner in the overall points standings.

Excelsior won with an overall combined boys and girls points of 159, from Elim Early Childhood Centre 79, Citizen’s Advice Bureau (RJR) 75, Ascot 69 and Covenant Christian Academy with 53 points.

Other participating basic schools are, Silverstone Basic, St Francis Infant, Lalyce Gray, Knollis Basic, Bethany Basic, Jahmona Basic, Harvest Temple Basic, Kid’s Choice Early Childhood Institution, Alvernia Prep, King’s Gate, Jamaica House, Sandy Park Basic, Little People In Training, SOS Hermann Gmeiner, Torrington Basic, Sylvia Foote Basic, Providence Methodist and Ewarton Basic.

The events to be contested are Class One boys’ and girls’ 60-metre dash, 80m dash and 4x50m relay; Class Two boys’ and girls’ 50-metre obstacle race, 60m dash and 4x50m relay; Class Three boys’ and girls’ 40m dash obstacle race, 30m dash and 4x50m relay.

Open events are the 4×100 metres relay, standing lung jump, 50 metres hurdles and 60 metres .