Schools Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium yesterday.

But a thrilling day of competition is anticipated today as hundreds of secondary school students battle for honours in the various track and field events, competition beginning this morning at 9.00.

With most of yesterday's events considered as qualifying heats for the finals today, the highlight of the track events was Blenn Bean's win in the over 15 boys' 5000 metre event.

Berkeley Institute and CARIFTA athlete Michael Donawa appeared to be running away with the race when fortunes suddenly changed. With two laps to go and Bean in hot pursuit, Donawa succumbed to a nagging groin injury and was forced out of the race as Bean seized his chance.

"It happened when I was running in the 5,000 metres in Carifta and that all started when I got tripped,'' explained Donawa afterwards. "It's still very swollen but I have been wearing a bandage which gives me more flexilibity. The bandage was a great assistance.'' Donawa said he was in front by about 80 metres when the injury forced him out.

But the good news for his school is that the Berkeley senior intends to be back on the track today for the 1,500 metres and possibly also the 800 metres.

"I'm looking into my long term goals, more senior competition like the Senior CAC, East Coast Invitational and Junior Pan Am,'' said Donawa.

In the girls open 3,000 metres Laura Turner of Chaffee romped to a comfortable victory by almost two minutes, after leading home the field with a blistering time of 11:34.20. The second runner came in in 13:27.