BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Jan.29.2018 – DESPITE the cold and breezy conditions at the Kim Collins athletics stadium last evening (Jan.28), the Charles E. Mills Secondary School came away victorious at the 2018 Giant Malt High School Relay Competition.
The team, which has had good showings at Meets over the years, dominated the competition from the first whistle, winning 18 medals overall – 10 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals, and 3 Bronze medals.
They were closely followed into second by the 2017 champions, the Washington Archibald High School, which copped 15 medals; the Charlestown Secondary School came a distant third with 8 medals.
The event, which was in its second year, is used by the organizers as a precursor to the launch of the new scholastic athletics season.
Minister of Sports, Shawn Richards explained that the event was the brainchild of sports and education teachers in the Federation, among others in the Ministries of Education and Sports.
He disclosed that all proceeds from the meet would be donated to the nine schools that participated at the event.
Equipment and support materials valued at over $20,000 were distributed to secondary schools around the islands in November last year.
“This meet is unique from all others, as your monetary support is directly working for you as it is returned to schools. The monies are not just returned in cash, which may be redirected to other programmes, but in the quick mix which would allow the direct benefit to sport and physical education programmes,” noted Richards.
The 2018 Relay competition saw the return of the Cheerleading competition, which was won by the Washington Archibald High School, and the Minister applauded its inclusion.
He urged students to turn out and participate in the physical activity, because there is an application for cheerleading to be one of the demonstrating activities at the Olympic Games.
“So, while it may not be seen as sport, there are opportunities for scholarships and international representation in that area. So if your passion is dance, I encourage you to go out and to become involved.”
Attention would now turn to the various school meets, before the national primary and high school events are staged in March.
