to an historic end at National Stadium with Berkeley Institute again running away with the team title.

Led by a record shattering showing from Richard Walcott combined with the exploits of Patrina Swan and Gina Cann, the Pembroke school retained the mantle of Bermuda's best.

Walcott smashed both the 400 and 800 marks in the Under-13 category and also won the 1,500 to emerge as star of the championships.

The afternoon session witnessed the youngster annihilate the field with a clocking of 56.0 seconds in the 400 which erased from the books Whitney Institute alumnus Marvin Stovell's time of 56.4, recorded eight years ago.

Earlier Walcott set a blistering pace in the 800 while laying siege to the year-old best time of 2:13.5 set by Warwick Academy's Jeremiah Smith, breaking the tape in a stunning 2:11.1.

Meanwhile, champion Under-15 girl Swan excelled in the middle distances, taking the 400 and 800, while Cann dominated the senior girls, placing first in the 100, 200 and long jump.

Other fine performances were turned in by St. George's Damon Mallory and Tariq Hewey of Warwick Secondary in the Over-15 boys.

Hewey ruled the sprints, taking the 100 and 200 metres, equalling Devon Bean's 100 mark of 10.7 in the process.

Mallory was unmatched over the longer distances, rolling to victory in the 3,000, 1,500 and 800.

Mallory thus earned champion boy status, while Saltus' Kondwani Williams (first in the 400, second in long jump, third in 200) and Smith (first 800, second 1,500, third 400) tied for Under-15 honours.

Likewise, Erica Frith of Saltus (first long jump and 1,500, second 800) and Berkeley's Angela Brangman (first 800 and 100, second 200) shared the Under-13 prize.

Yet it was another landslide triumph for Berkeley, who posted 354 points to claim the overall title ahead of Warwick Academy (199 points), with Saltus third (163 points).

As the sun went down, Bermuda Secondary Schools Sports officials were left to contemplate the future of track and field in Bermuda's schools system.

"I think we can start to look for a couple of exciting things,'' said meet director Jon Beard afterwards. "The middle school meets are going to be quite similar to this situation anyway because there's almost the same schools.

"With the the senior one I think we've got the opportunity to provide some very exciting meets because we've got Cedarbridge and then four other schools and we can almost have an All-Star event there if we look at it and run it that way.

"We can have a couple of evening meets. I think the floor is open now for all sorts of exciting possibilities.'' Beard was generally pleased with the final edition, one largely devoid of incident unlike several in the recent past.

He praised the student/athletes for the great spirit shown throughout the two days of competition and also thanked officials for their contributions.

Education Minister Jerome Dill made an appearance at the end, being presented with ties from each school symbolising the end of an era prior to the final event.

Dill stated that next year would bring an even "bigger, more impressive event''.