Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Portland secured an unexpected victory as the curtain came down on the 2007 Blue Cross/Jamaica Teacher's Association (JTA)-sponsored National Primary All-Age and Junior High School Athletics Championships at the National Stadium yesterday.

Portland surprised everyone, including their coordinator, Herman Reid, when they tallied 268.33 points to beat dethroned champions St. Andrew (264) in a championship which saw the lead changing hands regularly.

The top two were followed by Kingston (248.50), St. Elizabeth (219), St. Mary (197.33), Manchester (175), St. Ann (159), Trelawny (120), Clarendon (114.5), St. James (100), St. Catherine 58), Westmoreland (51.33), St. Thomas (40) and Hanover (4).

"We didn't come here to win," said Reid. "Last year we finished seventh, our objective was to improve (this year)," he added.

"We had seen St. Andrew, Manchester and St. Elizabeth as organised parishes. These parishes get external funding to help with their programme in Portland; it's difficult to get funding.

"But we knew that the natural talent was there," said Reid.

The Portland coordinator said their belief was strengthened on the basis of performances in qualifying races leading up to yesterday's final day.

"After the first day, when we qualified for so many finals, the writing was on the wall," he explained.

Portland now join Manchester, St. Elizabeth and St. Andrew as winners of the 23-year-old championships.

"Overwhelming, it's a wonderful moment," was how Reid described the victory.

"I served as an athlete for Portland and it's always a dream (to win). I remembered the days when Portland, for many years, stood at one position - 14th.

Celebrating

However, Reid said when he finished teachers' college, he reorganised the set-up and after five years, they are now celebrating. Shevel McDonald of Portland took the 800m/1500m Open double. She won the 1500m in 5:08.55 ahead of her teammate Antonette Grey (5:12.48).

In the sprints, St. Andrew's pair of Neil Reynolds (11.96) and Nicolas Lindsay (12.41) took the respective 100m Under-17 and Under-15 events. Clarendon's Khadeesh Willis (12.85) took the Under-13 100m, while Donovan Bernard of Kingston (11.88) won the Under-9 boys 80m.

St. James' Nicholas Thomas won the Under-11 sprint double, the 100m in 13.98 and 200m in 28.18.

Serena Canegan of Kingston (1.55m) took the girls high jump open, while her teammate, Chantal Duncan, won the long jump open with a leap of 4.93m. Donlloy Robinson of Manchester won the Under-9 cricket ball throw with 30.52m, while Kimberly Cover of St. Andrew took the shot put open with 8.40m.

Clarendon, St. James and St. Mary won two sprint relays each.