Lawrence, Naggo Head’s team leader

Yourie Lawrence was one of many reasons seven-time champions Naggo Head Primary were so dominant at this year's Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Primary Athletic Championships at the National Stadium last week.

Naggo Head amassed a whopping 228 points, way ahead of their Portmore rivals, Southborough (117 points), third place, Rousseau (103 points), St Richard's (88 points), and Black River (84 points).

The Grade five student led from the front as he took the sprint double in fine style. He went into the 100 metre final under intense pressure and delivered in 12.62 seconds.

The 200m was also impressive where he broke the 200m record (25.32 seconds) during the semi-finals.

He won in 26.08 seconds, with Spanish Town's Milton Luckain second in 27.59 and third place went to George Headley's Jevon Nelson 27.61.

Said Lawrence: "I have worked really hard for this all season and I wish to thank my parents for their support, and all the coaches."

"Yourie is dedicated to his training and it as paid off for him, and I love how he balanced his training with school work. He is averaging over 90 per cent in school and I think that's great," his stepfather, Everton Clarke said.

The youngster's mother Judith revealed that athleticism "runs in his blood" adding that she ran while in high school as does his brother.

"Yourie is not only a good athlete he is a team player and a sportsman. Yourie plans to be a professional athlete in the near future," she said, adding that he was inspired by Kingston College's ace sprinter, Jhevaughn Matherson, and World and Olympic Gold medallist Yohan Blake.