Bourne House Rules
By Anthony Be Beauville

Under unfavourable running conditions and two delays due to rain at the Mindoo Phillip Park on Monday 25th February 2008, Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School is hoping for better running performances in terms of times from its athletes during the qualifying round and finals of the 2008 Inter Secondary School Track and Field Championships slated for the George Odlum National Stadium on March 10th, 12th and 14th, 2008.
Monday’s championship saw a number of athletes despite the poor running conditions show commitment and dedication to emerged tops for their respective houses. The times recorded on the day by the track officials really do not tell the true story of the level of competition during the 5 hour sport meet.
From my vantage point, in the male division 100 meter boys Darrel Nichols was the one to beat on the day as he marshalled (Bourne House) to yet another outstanding performance at the championships; his 12:09 secs in the 100 meters was enough to win gold. Like Nichols, Jotiege Charles of (Leon House) proved too much for her opponents in the 100 meters in a time of 14:08 secs. Charles also outsprinted all others on the track in her remaining events that she participated in and will lead Leon Hess Challenge at the Qualifying rounds for a place into the grand final at Interschool’s.

16 year old Anthony Clement representing (Jesse House) ran the race of his life as he crossed the finishing line in a time of 2:28:47 secs to win the senior boys 800 meters. While, the race of the day saw Michael Paul winning gold in the boys 1200 meters for (Jesse) in a time of 4:23:00 secs, ahead of Kerian Jn. Marie and Luvelyan Marshall (Bourne) 4:23:94 and 4:32:01 respectively, the three afore mentioned certainly set the track ablaze with their tactical run.
A scintillating run in the 400 metres Intermediate Division for girls between Kihrdi Casimir 1:14:99 (Leon) and her cousin Vernica Casimir (Bourne) 1:16:00 was one of the best run races on the afternoon in terms of sheer guts and rivalry to the finish line as both athletes gave it their all to the end.
Meanwhile, a number of individuals jogged through my memory and must be given special mention of for their tremendous performance as they spear headed the efforts of the various houses - Elliasa Marquis, Toia Sylvester, Ben Clement (Jesse) Joshua Alphonse, Lester Mitchel, Jarwinn Abbott, (Lewis) Sadia Chandler, Nicarge Arnold, Michael James (Bourne) Nicholas Lubrin, Zerait Issac and Nandi Paul (Leon) just to name a few.
At the end it was Bourne House who comprehensively emerged as Champions for 2008 with a mammoth total of 1045 points 309 points clear of second place finisher Leon with 736, Jesse 705 and Lewis adrift on 647.
In the coming days the likes of school Principal Ron Lubon and experienced coach Anthony Lamontagne will put the school machinery to work to select its final representative school team for the qualifying rounds of the Interschool Track and Field Championships 11 days away.