Ackel Ricketts of Pepper Primary was red hot as he smashed the Boys’ Cricket Ball Open record with a massive throw of 72.84m on the penultimate day of the INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary School Western Championship held at the St Elizabeth Technical High School.

After 11 of the 40 finals completed, defending champions Corinaldi Avenue Primary of St James raced to 109 points and established a 46.5-point lead over another St James team, Barracks Road on 62.5 points.

Black River Primary of St Elizabeth are in third spot on 62 points as Howard Cooke (43.5) and Glen Stuart (42) completed the top five schools.

In the first final, Holland Primary struck first blood as Stacian Forrest won the Girls’ Cricket Ball Open with a record throw of 48.67m, well above the previous best of 43.40m held by Andrea Irving of Flankers Primary since 2022.

Akira Evans of Corinaldi Avenue was second with 44.67m, which was also over the previous record and Naomi Brown of Mountainside Primary taking third spot with 41.72m.

Forrest has laid down a marker for the national championship as her mark was well above the winning throw from Central Champs which was 41.70m done by Shanae Thomas of Naggo Head.

Ricketts also laid down a marker as his 72.84m record was well above the Central Champs winner of 64.60 done by Dontae Williams of Jericho Primary.

J’Mar Jones of Black River was second with 69.40m which was also better than the previous record and Asher West of Bellefield Primary third with 58.09.

Corinaldi Avenue won five of the eight 4×100 relays final, capturing the Girls’ Class 3 and 4 and the Boys’ Class 1, 2 and 4.

Barracks Road won the Boys’ Class 3, 4×100, Howard Cooke took the Girls’ Class 1 and Wakefield Primary captured the Girls’ Class 2.

There will be 29 finals on the third and final day, and all indications are that defending champion Corinaldi Avenue will defend their title successfully.