Last lap for All-Age and Junior High Champs
Published:Wednesday | April 18, 2018 | 12:00 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Minister of Sports Olivia Grange said this year's staging of the INSPORTS All-Age and Junior High Athletics Championships will be the last.
Grange, who made the announcement during yesterday's launch, which was held at the hospitality room at the National Stadium, said they have turned their focus on improving the Primary Athletics Championships.
"A lot of emphasis has been placed on the fact that this competition will be the last," said Grange.
"The Ministry of Education is phasing out junior high schools, and by next year, there will be no junior high schools. You will have primary and you will have high schools, and so this competition will no longer be needed," Grange said.
"We are going to be focusing now on the biggest and the best primary [schools] competition that Jamaica will be staging," she said.
IN ITS 40TH YEAR
The championships, which is in its 40th year, will be held from April 25-26 at the National Stadium. Ten schools will be taking part in the championships, down from 16 last year, with Windward Road All-Age and Junior High as the defending champions.
The winning school will take home $150,000, while the runners-up will collect $100,000, with the third-place school taking home $70,000. Each of the participating schools will receive $50,000.
Oral Whilby, coach of Windward Road, who are seeking their fifth straight lien on the title, said he is confident that they will retain their title.
"We are expecting to win the championships this year, as we have been doing for a number of years now," said Whilby. "Windward Road is a quality team that will deliver quality performances during the championships."
A total of 55 events will be contested, with action starting 9 a.m. daily. Admission is free to the public.