44th National Inter-Schools Athletics Championships |20 June 2022

Grand Anse Praslin, La Digue clinch best primary and secondary schools titles

● SBSA dominates professional centres category

After an absence of two years due the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual National Inter-Schools Athletics Championships returned to Stad Linite on Saturday, gathering young athletes from 46 states and private primary and secondary schools and professional centres round the country who competed in 97 track and field events.

The much-anticipated traditional event has always been the perfect opportunity for exposure, thus the ideal occasion for young athletes to showcase their talents and be recognised by the authority responsible to help them develop and realise their full potential.

Compared to past championships, this year’s event did not produce any records and according to the organisers, the gap between the competitions – the previous one took place in 2019 – and also restrictions may have had a negative effect on the athletes’ preparations, thus the results.

The Grand Anse Praslin primary school is the new winner of this category, dethroning neighbour La Digue who won the title in 2019, while in the secondary school category, La Digue School is the grand winner, replacing Anse Royale who won the title at the previous championships.

For the professional centres, the Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA) is the new winner, replacing last championships’ winners the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA).

Saturday’s event was officially launched by Minister for Education Dr Justin Valentin in the presence of Speaker of the National Assembly Roger Mancienne, Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor, ex-Vice-President Vincent Meriton, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Sebastien Pillay, principal secretaries, members of the National Assembly, alongside other government officials.

President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan also attended the afternoon part of the event where he handed over the President’s Cup for discipline.

The 44th championships began with the traditional march past, before the athletes sang the competition’s hymn.

Imanuella Larue and Rohan Albert of Anse Royale secondary school then took the oath on behalf of the athletes, before Christian Mahoune and Wilna Ernest did the same on behalf of the officials.

For the primary schools’ category, Grand Anse Praslin school garnered 11 medals ‒ 7 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze ‒ to earn them a grand total of 119 points to top the category, finishing ahead of runner-up La Digue who accumulated a grand total of 101 points after winning 10 medals ‒ 5 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze. Anse Royale primary school finished third overall with 100 points after winning 3 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals.

In the secondary school category, La Digue collected 8 gold, 11 silver and 4 bronze medals to finish first with 252 points, ahead of second-placed Praslin secondary school who amassed 248 points after winning 10 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze medals. Plaisance secondary school finished third overall on 218 points with 5 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals won.

For the professional centres, the Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA) collected a grand total of 166 points from 7 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze medals won to finish on top, pushing the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) into second place on 94 points after winning 3 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medals. The School of Advanced Level Studies (Sals) finished third overall in the group on 87 points after winning 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals.

For the President’s Cup for discipline which was presented by President Ramkalawan, La Digue primary school once gain emerged victorious, earning a grand total of 200 points to finish ahead of runner-up Grand Anse primary school (199 points), while Port Glaud primary school was the third on 197 points.

In the secondary school category, La Digue collected 266 points to finish first, ahead of Grand Anse Praslin who was second with 236 points, while Plaisance secondary school finished third on 229 points.

For the professional centres, the Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (Siad) emerged victorious after accumulating 168 points, finishing ahead of second-placed National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS) who collected 164 points, while Sals came in third on 162 points.

Speaking to Sports NATION, competition director Wilfred Adrien noted that after a two-year absence, the 44th championships went smoothly in every aspect, including logistics, behaviour of athletes and supporters.

Mr Adrien explained that even if there were no new competition records, it is very important to compare the results achieved on Saturday with the existing records, which he said are quite close.

On site to help the organisers on Saturday, the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) noted that they registered an increase in the number of athletes they attended to.

Health coordinator for the RCSS Karine Ernesta said they attended to over 130 athletes for various needs, including muscle cramps, abdominal pain, dehydration and also fainting.

She said all indications point to poor preparation, including no proper breakfast and lack of adequate fluid in the body.

The accompanying photos were taken by our photographers Joena Meme, Thomas Meriton and Louis Toussaint.

The Hall of Fame of the 44th championships

President’s Cup for discipline

Primary – La Digue (200 points)

Secondary – La Digue (266 points)

Professional Centers – Seychelles Institute of Art and Design – Siad – (168 points)

Other Cups

Girls Under 8 – Glacis Primary (33 points)

Boys Under 8 – Baie Ste Anne Primary (20 points)

Girls Under 10 – La Digue Primary (32 points)

Boys Under 10 – La Digue Primary (26 points)