‘This is extremely special’: Wesley Hall Primary’s greatest sporting achievement
By Anmar Goodridge-Boyce
Athletes at Wesley Hall Primary School have had a goal for two decades to win the National Primary Schools Athletics Championship (NAPSAC) title.
Their biggest dream came true on Friday when they stormed to a convincing Boys’ Cup for the first time ever at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
Wesley Hall’s Warriors were crowned boys’ champions with a total of 117 points, beating Luther Thorne’s (83) and Bayley’s Primary (77) Falcons.
And it’s a feat that PE teacher Kwame Ramsay has called the school’s greatest sporting achievement.
“This is something very special; I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this since I’ve been a teacher at school. It’s the best there is. Some might argue that Herman Griffith is the best and we are [accustomed to] to win, but that feels like another level,” he said Barbados TODAY during an interview.
“It’s special for the children who sacrificed themselves and worked to ensure that we won this title. It’s not the first time we’ve tried, but it’s the first time we’ve poured everything into it. This is for all athletes, past, present and staff at the school, we all made this happen. It’s also for the parents and all supporters,” he added.
Notably, the Wesley Hall Warriors didn’t win a single track event for the finals but did pick up valuable points in the field as Cazari Jordan took top honors in the U-7 division with 20 points after winning the standing long jump with one jump of 1.52 meters and bronze in the tennis ball throw with 22.50 meters.
Rajan Forde took gold in the U13 boys’ long jump with 4.59 meters and silver in the 100 meters in 13.20 seconds.
Jaton Bryant took silver in the U13 boys’ shot put (9.24m), while Khymani Carter (3.93m) took bronze in the U11 boys’ long jump.
“The story started when we won the zone and we were very proud of it, but that’s an even bigger feeling, we’re thrilled with the achievement and everything that went into it. Everyone who contributed played a part and we are very happy.
“The journey was long and it began for the first time. I spoke to my PE teacher colleague and we agreed that we would put all our energy into winning NAPSAC. We started work over the Christmas holidays and then practiced about five days a week and we’re happy with the kids’ work and the support from the parents has been absolutely amazing,” Ramsay said.
West Terrace were again crowned girls’ champions, beating the Christ Church girls by just seven points. Ahead of the relays, the Christ Church girls held a slim three-point lead but failed to win a single pole race, while West Terrace won the U11 girls’ 4 × 100 meter race in 1:00.48 seconds and a bronze in the U13 won 4×100m relay in 57.12 seconds.
Coach Roderick Harmon was satisfied with the title defense.
“It’s great. It’s an amazing feeling, especially since people were saying at the beginning of the day that we weren’t in it at all, I had no idea where we were but I knew our squadrons would have pulled us back with the points. A kudos to the athletes who kept their nerve and got the baton across the track Our motto is excellence and success comes only through diligence, I believe in hard work,” he said.
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