First it was the middle schools and yesterday it was the primary schools who successfully showcased a new format for their annual athletics meet at the National Sports Centre.

Instead of simply having girls and boys champions in the three divisions as customary, schools competed for track and field supremacy for the first time - and they did so in zones.

When cheering abated and the results were tallied, West Zone (Heron Bay, Port Royal, Somerset, Southampton Glebe and West End) were convincing winners with 489 points to the East Zone's 443 (Bermuda Christian Academy, East End, Elliot, Francis Patton, Harrington Sound, St. David's and St. George's Preparatory).

The East Central Zone (Bridging the Gap, Bermuda High, Montessori Academy, Northlands, Prospect and Victor Scott) finished third on 425 while West Central brought up the rear on 423 (Gilbert Institute, Mt. St. Agnes, Paget, Purvis, Saltus Grammar, Warwick Academy and West Pembroke).

"Some schools are small so we decided on a zone competition rather than have individual schools so the smaller schools would have someone to cheer on. It worked out well and I think this augers well for track and field. There's a lot of talent.

"We've found a way to have some competition without it being too stressful for primary school students," said joint organiser, Renee Heyliger of Somerset Primary.

The divisional honours were shared among the various zones with Kenya Thompson of Elliot taking the Under-9 Girls Champion title (won 200 and 400 metres; second in 800 metres) while Trey West End's fleet-footed Trey Simons was the Under-9 Boys Champion with victories in the 400 and 800 metres as well as the Randy Benjamin Mile race.

"You need to have faith in yourself," said eight-year-old Simons, who admitted being nervous before his events.

Among the Under-10s, Nandi Woods of Purvis and West Pembroke's Dante Leverock ruled. The latter - an all-round sportsman who has dedicated this season to his grandmother, Eunice Baxter who died last month - retained his title with a sprint double as well as the long jump crown.

"I want to go to the Olympics. That's my goal," said the ten-year-old whose favourite race is the 200 metres because you can make up for a slow start.

Woods, who also achieved a sprint double plus winning the 400 metres, is a huge fan of sprint queen, Marion Jones, and aspires to someday emulate the American athlete's accomplishments. Woods, ten, was delighted with her first trophy after years of "pushing hard".

Prospect's Kiara Baxter was the Over-10 Girls Champion while 11-year-old Shomari Brown of West End was the Boys Champion in that division. The pair mirrored each other's success as they both won the 100 and 200 metres as well as conquering the competition in the sandpit.

"I am happy to be the Over-10 champion. I tied last year for the Under-10 champion girl and I felt confident this year," said ten-year-old Baxter.

Brown's triumph compensated for his disappointing first outing among Over-10 boys last year.

"This was much better and I feel really good this time," he said.