Meet the Winners of the 2019 National Primary School Track & Field Championship
Today, the national championship games for primary school track and field were held at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. Hundreds of children from across the country competed in the many categories in the discipline and after some four hours of running, jumping and throwing, the winners were announced. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
From as early as four o’clock this morning, these young athletes journey to the city for an opportunity of a lifetime, to compete among the best in the many categories of track and field. The discipline has over the years proven that Belize has many talented athletes who would go on to compete in the regional CODICADER Games.
Kaya Cattouse
Kaya Cattouse, Acting National Sports Coordinator
“This is held every year and this is where track and field athletes—runners, throwers, jumpers—from across country come to Belize City at the Marion Jones to compete.”
Duane Moody
“These are different disciplines right?”
Kaya Cattouse
“Different disciplines within track and field yes. We have short distance races, long distance races, we have jumps and throws. Winning you get yourself a medal, you get bragging rights of course and what the Sports Council has now started is that the individual who actually wins, they get to represent the country of Belize at the CODICADER games.”
The children as young as ten got on the track and gave it their all; some having put in weeks of training and others just naturally talented. The students this afternoon proudly received their medals before their peers.
Jaeda Morris
Jaeda Morris, Gold Medallist, Female Shot-put
“I didn’t prepare that much cause I came to track a few times, but not to train. I came with my friend to prepare for track and field. And I just saw the people throwing the ball and I was like wow, I’d like to try that. So I didn’t really prepare, but it was something that I was interested in for a long while.”
Horizon also fielded the first place winner for the female long jump, who was twelve-year-old Taejah Simpson.
Bianca Castillo
Meanwhile, Stann Creek produced many winners. Eleven-year-old Bianca Castillo, twelve-year-old Britney Sabal and eleven-year-old Issani Valentine are the champions for the thousand-metre, three-hundred-metre and eighty-metre run respectively.
Bianca Castillo, Gold Medallist, 1000-Metre Run
“I feel very relieved and I feel very good that all the hard work and all the practicing I have done has paid off.”
Britney Sabal
Britney Sabal, Gold Medallist, 300-Metre Run
“I feel good that I win this three hundred meters and I just thank God.”
Duane Moody
“What did you do to prepare for it?”
Britney Sabal
“I no practice sir.”
Duane Moody
“So you just naturally talented?”
Britney Sabal
“Yes sir.”
Issani Valentine
Issani Valentine, Gold Medallist, 80-Metre Run
“I was quite nervous but at the end, I felt good.”
Duane Moody
“Have you always been interested in track and field? Always been a runner?”
Issani Valentine
“No sir, I just started this year.”
A pair of cousins from Pancotto Government School in the Belize District was also winners in the 2019 National Primary School Track and Field Championship Games. Jada Morales won in baseball throw, while Dorian won both relay and eighty-metre race in the male category.
Dorian Morales
Dorian Morales, Gold Medallist, Relay & 80-Metre Run
“I feel excited and proud of myself.”
Duane Moody
“How long have you been preparing? It’s not easy to do multiple disciplines. How long have you been preparing?”
Dorian Morales
“Since the year begin.”
Duane Moody
“What kinda skills you had to learn?”
Dorian Morales
“When I was young, I practiced with my uncle running.”
All winners walked away with medals and bragging rights. Duane Moody for News Five.
