Apia Park was full this week as local colleges vied for supremacy in track and field events to select the Zone A and Zone B schools to be represented in the Champion of Champions competition. 

On Tuesday nine local colleges in Samoa competed in more than twenty events to determine the winning schools for the first division of the athletics contest, including:  Avele, Leififi, Vaimauga, Palalaua, Papauta Girls, Falealii, Anoama’a, Aleipata and Lepa / Lotofaga colleges.

On Wednesday six schools took their marks: Saint Mary’s College, Chanel College, Church College Pesega, Saint Joseph’s College, Faleata College and Robert Louis Stevenson School competing in field and track events.

But each day belong to two dominant schools.

On Tuesday Avele College emerged as the leading school. 

Meanwhile yesterday Saint Joseph’s College once again dominated the Zone B athletics competition by winning all junior, intermediate and senior boys’ division.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer today at Apia Park, the Zone A President, Niuma’ana So’onalole, said the Zone A is trying to maintain the "one in spirit" theme of last month's Pacific Games and telling the students to develop their athletes talents further. 

The sun was baking at Apia Park but it was not enough to sap the energy of students vying to represent their schools.

Lennx Siaosi, a 15-year-old from Avele College told the Samoa Observer that competing was a great feeling: “I am happy to be here and it's not only inside class that students [show what they’re good at], but also sports as well".

And the school no doubt felt great too emerging on top in the Junior Girls', Junior Boys' and Intermediate Boys' Divisions. 

At the Zone B trials on Wednesday students piled into Apia Park to watch their classmates compete.

In the Junior Girls division, Saint Mary’s College won overall whereas Church College Pesega dominated both intermediate and senior girls’ division.

President of Zone B who is also the Church College Pesega Principal, Siakisone Taleni said that Maluafou College and Faatuatua Christian College could not attend this year’s athletics competition.

“A lot of schools were not ready with limited time to prepare and because they were involved in the Pacific Games and other schools did not have inter-house competitions where they can choose their best players," he said.

“There are approximately 600 athletes from various schools competing in this year’s Zone B."

“In my own perspective, the level of performance by athletes are amazing, the Pacific Games has inspired and encouraged most students to participate in athletics and we also acknowledge our main sponsor Samoa Stationery and Books (SSAB) for our prizes."

The Zone A Winners

Junior Girls' Division

Aleipata College

Intermediate Girls' Division

Falealili College

Senior Girls' Division

Avele College

Junior Boys' Division

Avele College

Intermediate Boys' Division

Avele College

Senior Boys' Division

Vaimauga College

The Zone B Winners

Junior Girls

Saint Mary's College  

Intermediate Girls 

Church College Pesega

Senior Girls

Church College Pesega

Junior Boys

Saint Joseph’s College

Intermediate Boys

Saint Joseph's College

Senior Boys 

Saint Joseph’s College