St Patrick’s were crowned INSPORTS Primary Schools Netball champion of the Kingston and St Andrew division, as they defeated Mona Heights Primary 13-5 in the final at the Stadium Courts on Tuesday.

In the third-placed playoff, Half-Way-Tree got the better of Clan Carthy Primary 5-2 as the top two teams advanced to the all-island tournament. Earlier, St Patrick’s defeated Half-Way-Tree 13-5 and Mona Heights beat Clan Carthy 12-7 in the semi-finals.

St Patrick’s are the defending all-island champion and winning coach Lecia Walters, said it was a difficult game despite the scoreline.

“The girls really had to dig in. The game was a bit challenging, but we pulled through,” said Walters.

“Well onto the all-island finals and we will just go back to training, fix the things that need fixing and prepare ourselves. Every year the girls look forward to this INSPORTS competition as it gives them a chance to showcase their talents,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mona’s coach Maureen Murray said she believed her girls were a little bit nervous.

“You know experience goes a long way so we will just come back for the next one -- the all-island,” Murray noted.  

“We didn’t settle until the last quarter and shooting wins games and the girls weren’t getting the ball into the circle so we will have to go and work on that,” she added.

Meanwhile, in St Catherine, played at the Ministry of Education in Old Harbour, Bridgeport and Naggo Head advanced to the final set to be played on Friday. Bridgeport defeated McAuley 13-6 while Naggo Head had a hard-fought 7-5 win over Spring Gardens.

Over in Trelawny, First Hill All-Age beat Kinloss Primary 10-0 and Clark’s Town beat Brampton Primary 11-3. In Portland, Buff Bay Primary whipped Port Antonio Primary 14-1.

There were two games in Manchester as McIntosh Primary beat Hatfield Primary 8-4 and Ramble Primary defeated McIntosh Primary who were playing a rescheduled game 3-1.

In St Elizabeth, Santa Cruz beat Holland 7-4; Carisbrook defeated Barbary Hall 16-11, Black River beat Middle Quarters 10-1 and Brompton whipped Burnt Savannah 19-0. While over in Westmoreland, Savanna-La-Mar Primary trounced Little London 13-0. In Hanover, Pell River edged Kendal Primary 2-1, while Green Island whipped Maryland Primary 25-0.

Naggo Head Primary registered the biggest win as the Institute of Sports’ All-Island Primary Schools netball competition got going beating Southborough Primary 25-0.

Defending national champions Lyssons Primary of St Thomas, surged to a sizeable 24-point lead after 22 finals entering the final day of the INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary School Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Lyssons, the Eastern champions, amassed 110 points to be well clear of Central winners Spanish Town Primary of St Catherine in second on 86 points. Naggo Head and Greater Portmore also of St Catherine are third and fourth with 84 and 77 points, respectively.

St Andrew’s Harbour View Primary rounds out the top five with 57 points.

On a day when news broke that Jamaican star Christopher Taylor faces a possible ban from the sport, 11-year-old Daniel Glaves of Red Hills Road Primary equalled his 300m record of 41.81 set in 2011. Mercado Williams of Naggo Head Primary was second in 42.62 ahead of Chidane Gayle of Lyssons in 43.63.

It was one of two records set on the day as Sanique Watt of John Mills broke the Girls High Jump with a leap of 1.49m in an exciting showdown with Afharia Anderson of Spanish Town, who was second with 1.47m. Zodieon Baker of Lyssons was third with 1.45m.

Lyssons got off to a brilliant start copping 16 points in the first final of the day, the girls’ Cricket Ball Throw courtesy of Taheisha Brown (44.50m) and Aliyhana Alford (43.35m) who were first and second respectively. Jada Adlam of Harbour View was third with 41.22m.

The much-anticipated clash in the Boys Class One 100m between Jevaney Findlay of Spanish Town and Omeco Henclewood of Holy Rosary failed to materialize as Henclewood was disqualified for a false start.

In his absence, Findlay destroyed the field clocking 12.12 (-1.7 m/s) and was just outside the record of 11.90 held by Roje Fearon of St Francis since 2010.  Jahvado Samuels of Barracks Road was second in 12.86 with Ishmael Wilkins of Howard Cooke Primary third in 12.93. 

St Patrick’s Danelia Clarke won the Girls Class One 100m in 12.90 (-1.3m/s). Rihanna Scott of Rock Hall Primary was second in 12.97 with Half-Way Tree’s Chelseann Samuels third in 12.98 in a close and exciting race.

Eric Edwards of Barracks Road won the Boys Class One 400m in 58.02 ahead of Malrick Thomas of Spanish Town with 58.23. Khieme Campbell of St. Catherine finished third in 58.71.

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

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

St Catherine Primary finished fourth on 110 points with Jericho Primary surprised many with their fifth-placed finish on 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 Primary that finished third last year with 225 points, 125 behind Greater Portmore. Having turned it around they walked away with JMD$ $250,000 winning prize.

Naggo Head which led seven points at the start of the final day and held a lead for most of the day, were awarded JMD$200,000 while third-placed Greater Portmore got $150,000. The teams finishing fourth to 10th each get $75,000.

Jevaney Findlay (Spanish Town), Zandane Banton (Greater Portmore) and Mercadco Williams were the Overall Champion Boys with 18 points each. While four girls, Shanice Williams (Greater Portmore), Moesha McLaren, Sarah McDonald (Naggo Head) and Jamilia Alves (Spanish Town), were named Overall Champion Girls.

Each girl also scored 18 points.

Principal Roogae Kirlew, principal of Spanish Town Primary, praised his team and the coaching staff for the extra effort this year fueled by the additional sponsorships.

“I am very, very happy,” he said.

“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.”

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

Sixteen teams have already qualified for the National Championship set for May 25-27 and another eight teams will earn spots from the Western Championship.

Lyssons Primary are the defending National champions.

Naggo Head Primary assumed the lead on the penultimate day of the INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Athletics Central Championship amassing 94 points after 10 finals and holds a seven point advantage over defending champion Greater Portmore Primary with 87 points.

Lurking just behind are Spanish Town Primary sitting in the third spot on 83 points. St Catherine Primary are fourth with 37 points with Angel Primary fifth on 30 points.

With 28 finals set for the final day, the stage is set for a three-way battle for the title between Naggo Head, Greater Portmore and Spanish Town as only 11 points separate the teams.

With eight records established, Naggo Head was responsible for four of them as Kiara Watson broke the first in the Girls’ Cricket Ball Throw with 43.40m. At the Eastern Championship, Taheisha Brown of Lyssons threw 44.66 for that record. The stage is set for an epic battle at the Nationals later this month.

Ryandre Barteley of Greater Portmore won the boys Cricketball Throw with 58.38m ahead of Jardane Doyley of Homestead primary with 54.75m.

Meanwhile, seven of the eight 4x100 relay records were erased and Naggo Head were responsible for three of them. They won the Girls’ Class Four 4x100 in 1:03.26 ahead of Spanish Town who also dipped below the previous record clocking 1:03.33. Greater Portmore was third in 1:03.45. Naggo Head were at it again capturing the Girls’ Class Three and Two in 56.28 and  54.52 respectively.

Spanish Town won three relays, two of which were in record fashion capturing the Boys’ Class One (49.96) and Girls Class (53.49). Spanish Town also won the Boys’ Class Four in 1:02.59.

Greater Portmore won the Boys’ Class Three 4x100m in 55.00 ahead of Naggo Head in 56.13. Angel Primary was third in 56.31. St Catherine win the Boys’ Class Two in a record 53.41.