St Catherine, St Andrew and Portland are the favoured teams to fight for the title IN the 35th staging of the JTA/Sagicor National Primary Schools Athletics Championships, set to take place at National stadium this Friday and Saturday.

Over 1,000 junior athletes will participate in the age groups of Under-9, Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15.

Defending champions St Catherine won last year with 304 points-54 more than St Andrew and 71 ahead of Portland-for their third title since 1984. St Andrew have won 18 times in that same period and Portland has won three titles.

Kenrick Bennett, parish coordinator and coach of St Catherine for the past four years said, “Our preparation has not been good with only one training session, as most of the athletes were participating in another championship. We should have two or three good sessions at St Jago High, which will help us to finalise our team. I expect the team to earn most points from the Under-13 group, which is led by Micah Mohan in the girls’ 400 metres.”

The preparations have been much better for last year’s second-placed team, St Andrew.

“We have had three good sessions but we have a couple of injury concerns. Despite that, we have a formidable team as usual. Surprisingly, we never won a race on the track last year but still finished second. I do expect to win the title this year,” said Mabracq Harris, coordinator for St Andrew and a 2007 graduate of G C Foster College for Sports.

“Our Under-11 and Under-15 group should provide most points, led by Kyle Bodden in Under-11 boys’ 100m and 200m, and Terrica Francis in the 400m for Under-15 girls,” Harris concluded.

Herman Reid, who has been in-charge of Portland for the last 11 years, which school won their last title in 2012, said, “Approximately 70 per cent of the team are firs- timers to this championship and the National Stadium, but we expect to be in the top three for the-12th consecutive year.”

National representative Chevauna Grant for Under-13 girls’ 100m and 200m, and Under-11 boy Desanie McMurrine in both sprints are expected to lead the charge for Portland.

Keith Wellington, chairman of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association Sports Committee, said another good championship is on the cards as things are being fine-tuned for this week’s staging.

“I believe we are very much on target to host a successful championship. We only need to fine-tune the entry list, as there is great work from the coordinators. We are happy that Sagicor continues to support us and create a platform to unearth talent from all across the nook and cranny of this island,” Wellington expressed.

Day one Friday has finals scheduled 14 of the 58 finals scheduled, with the other 44 being staged on day two. Admission on Friday is free, while on Saturday, adults are being asked to pay $200, and children $100.