Sardine buoyed by his school’s performance

Coach of the Kingstown Preparatory School’s Athletics team, Ian Sardine, is overjoyed at his school’s performance at the revived National Primary Schools’ Athletics Championships,{{more}} which took place last Wednesday, June 8, at the Arnos Vale One Playing Field.

It was a return to the championships which were last held six years ago.

The Kingstown Preparatory School (KPS) compiled 92 points in the Male Division and was the run away leader, and put together 74 points, to also cop the Female Division.

In total, the KPS finished with 166 points, which Sardine thought was a manifestation of the programme, the school and the work he puts in.

“I feel overjoyed at the performance of the school, and it is because of the programme at the school, where the students have at least one session of physical activity per week,” Sardine said to SEARCHLIGHT.

The indefatigable Sardine, thought too, that many of the schools were at a disadvantage, since his charges are also involved in after school training, under his guidance.

Sardine advised his opponents to pay more attention to their preparations.

But whilst Sardine is pleased with the efforts of his athletes, he opined that the school would have done better if the finals of the island wide championships had been held as planned, back in April, when the students were just coming off their Inter House Athletics Championships.

Last week’s finals were originally set for April 13, but were postponed because of heavy rains which lashed this country around that time.

Additionally, the organizers withheld the hosting of the finals until the conclusion of the Common Entrance Examinations.

And, Sardine was quick to point out that sports and academics can complement each other.

He revealed that the top student at this year’s Common Entrance Examinations, Alron Harry, is one of his top athletes, specialising in the 200 m and is a key member of his relay teams.

It was the second national athletics title for the Kingstown Preparatory School, within the last four months. The KPS won all comers at the National Relay Classics held February 26, at the Victoria Park.

Not resting on his laurels, Sardine wants to repeat both titles next year, his final year, as he enters retirement from the teaching profession.

Also sharing the spotlight at last Wednesday’s championships, Ellysa Thomas of the Pamelus Burke Primary School was the top athlete in the female 5 to 6 division with 18 points. Chadlee Chewitt of the South Rivers Methodist finished on 18 points, taking the male 5 to 6 division.

In the Female 7 to 8 category, Alexis Ince, Mackayla Mc Dowald and Angel Stephens all finished on 9 points each. Ince and Mc Dowald are from the Union Methodist and Stephens, the Layou Government.

In the male 7 to 18, the Kingstown Preparatory School’s Brenon Cato was first with 16 points.

Bernadette Williams of the Lowmans Leeward Anglican, was the winner among the females of that age group, 9 to 10. Williams chalked up 18 points. Taking the male 9-10 title was Kee-Juan Chance of the Fitz Hughes Government. He contributed 21 points.

Wenecia Alexander of the Stephanie Browne Primary of Union Island won the 11-13 Female Division with her 18 points and Jahvan Peters of the Brighton Methodist with 27 points copped the Male 11-13 individual title.

Alexander, Williams and Thomas shared the Victrix Ludurom title, while Peters was undisputed in the race for Victor Ludurom.

Second in the overall title was the Layou Government with 81 points, with Fitz Hughes Government on 78, in the third spot.

The finals brought together the winners of all the zonal preliminaries, then the semi finals. (RT)