Bregado Flax Educational Center's Lemanuel Fahie, in flight in the Squat Jump during Kids Athletic Day 

Samuel joins Scatliffe as Kids’ athletic day competition champions

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

A day after the Belle Vue Primary School was renamed in honor of longtime educator Joyce Samuel, the students of the institution went out and joined perennial power house Althea Scatliffe, in winning the respective B and A divisions of the Inter Primary Schools Kids athletic competition. The competition held at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds last Wednesday and Thursday, were part of Education Week activities.

Samuel who merely lost by three points to two time defending champions and rival Ivan Dawson last year, comfortably won the B division title with 178 points. Virgin Gorda’s Robinson O’Neal, narrowly held off Dawson, 153-149, for second—their best showing in the competition. Lenora Delville tallied 130, while Isabella Morris finished with 87. Anegada had 39, followed by Cedar’s 31. Jost Van Dyke recorded 20 and St. Mary’s returned to the competition with 15.

Althea Scatliffe sowed up the A division with 228 points to Francis Lettsome’s 199. St. Georges nipped Enis Adams for third place, 111-110. Virgin Gorda’s Bregado Flax Educational Center followed with 78, in a tight race with Ebenezer Thomas and Willard Wheatley, who had 77 and 75, points respectively. Seventh Day Adventist amassed 66 and Alexandrina Maduro 46.

“I must say that for a new venture, it went pretty good. The one major problem was we had late starts on both days and if we could have gotten that ironed out, I think I would have been much better,” said the Education Department’s event coordinator Allen Hodge. Because of plans to put a synthetic track at A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds, the meet format was revised from the traditional running and jumping events. “Considering it was new and a different approach we tried this year, it was a success,” Hodge added.

>From his observations, Hodge said the students had a lot of fun, but the adults were expecting the traditional events and relays. “Some of them were not as receptive as I would have liked them to be, but, it was something new and as a result, some people are not open to change,” he said. “However, if they get to know what it was all about, they will be a little more appreciative of it. But, it’s for the students. At the end of the day, if they are not enjoying it, why put it on? It’s for them.”

Discussions were held with the physical education teachers in December, to plan the program, Hodge said, noting that the schools adjusted to the changes in the event. “When we found out that the track was not going to be available, we brainstormed for an alternative and P.E. teacher Ileta Potter came up with the idea of the kids’ athletic day,” Hodge explained. “It was the consensus of the group at the time and, representatives from the schools were called in, in January and made aware from what was going on.”

Hodge said he liked the fact that students who would not have won medals in traditional events were able to do so, because events we designed for them. “One didn’t have to be an “athlete” per say,” he noted. “There were things like the cross hop and the broad jump. Students who traditionally got medals got them too. Everyone in my opinion benefited.”

Following are the respective champions: A Division Champions; Under 9 Girls: Monifah Leonard, Ebenezer Thomas, 10 points. Boys: Kyron McMaster, Enis Adams, 10. U-11 Girls: Ashley-Marie McCall, Enis Adams, 14. Boys: Kayvon Solomon, Althea Scatliffe, 18. U-13 Girls; Darnesha Robinson, Francis Lettsome, 16. Boys: Donald Lettsome, Ebenezer Thomas, 12. U-15 Girls: Khalisha Todman, Althea Scatliffe, 22. Boys: Alex Brewley, Althea Scatliffe, 18.

B Division Champions; U-9 Girls: Lakesha Barry, Anegada, 8. Boys: Linton James, Robinson O’Neal, 10. U-11 Girls: Khadijah Smith, Ivan Dawson, 13. Boys: Kaleem Scatliffe, Ivan Dawson, 22. U-13 Girls: Tarikah Warner, Isabella Morris, 15. Boys: Norville Carey, Lenora Delville, 12. U-15 Girls: Anneika Blyden, Joyce Samuel, 16. Boys: Jasper Thompson, Lenora Delville, 11.

Victor Ludorum: A Division; (tie) Kayvon Solomon and Alex Brewley, Althea Scatliffe 18. Victrix Ludorum; Khalisha Todman, Althea Scatliffe, 18. B Division: Victor; Kaleem Scatliffe, Ivan Dawson, 22. Victrix; Anneika Blyden, Joyce Samuel, 16.