ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Spanish Town Primary were crowned champions of the INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Central Athletics Championship after seeing off Naggo Head and Greater Portmore in a thrilling three-way battle to the line at the GC Foster College.

Spanish Town amassed 313.50 points after winning the final two 4x200m relays, emerging 10 points clear of a fighting Naggo Head on 303, with defeated champions Greater Portmore finishing third with 273 after fading a bit in the latter stages.

St Catherine Primary finished fourth with 110 points, while Jericho Primary surprised many with their fifth-placed finish with 98 points. Angels (90), St John’s Primary (77), Homestead Primary (49), Kensington Primary (36) and Bridgeport (35) completed the top 10.

It was a much-improved display from Spanish Town after finishing third last year with 225 points, which was 125 behind Greater Portmore, but they have turned it around and are deserved champions in 2023 and walked away with a $250,000 winning prize.

Naggo Head, which led coming into the final day by seven points and were in front for most of the day, collected $200,000, while third-placed Greater Portmore got $150,000. The teams from fourth to 10th received $75,000 each.

Jevaney Findlay (Spanish Town), Zandane Banton (Greater Portmore) and Mercadco Williams were the overall champion boys with 18 points each.

Four girls were tied for overall champion girls in Shanice Williams (Greater Portmore), Moesha McLaren, Sarah McDonald (Naggo Head) and Jamilia Alves (Spanish Town), all totalling 18 points.

Spanish Town Principal, Roogae Kirlew, praised his team and the coaching staff for the extra effort this year fuelled by the additional sponsorships to the school that help tremendously.

“I am very, very happy. We have put a lot of work into it and I must thank my PE department and I must name the coach and the parents because we actually camped out this year and put proper nutrition in place for our runners this time around,” said Kirlew.

With two of the three regional championships decided with Lyssons Primary of St Thomas winning the Eastern Championship and now St Catherine’s Spanish Town winners of Central champions, the focus now turns to the Western Championship, which starts on Thursday, May 11 at the St Elizabeth Technical High School and finishes on Saturday, May 13.

Sixteen teams have already qualified for the National Championship set for May 25-27 and another eight teams will be decided at the Western Championship to determine the all-island champions. Lyssons are the defending National champions.