BUSINESS UNUSUAL IN SCHOOL GAMES: Former champs endure pain as new winners are crowned

Upper Hill's George Abayo strugle with Jamhuri high school players during Nairobi Secondary school on Saturday, March 25, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Surprises, tears of joy, sorrow, dance and jubilation marked the end of this year’s secondary schools Term One regional games at the weekend.

New champions were crowned as former kings and queens watched in disbelief as their dynasties crumbled.

Top teams in hockey, rugby15s and basketball earned tickets to this year’s national games to be held from April 11 to 15 at Nairobi School.

Individual athletes, who excelled in cross country, swimming, decathlon and heptathlon, also sealed their places to the annual schools extravaganza.

After reverting to old provincial boundaries, things were not as smooth as they used to be for most former champions as returnees claimed top spots with ease.

Laiser Hill Academy of Kajiado County, St Brigid’s Kiminini, St Joseph’s Girls Kitale and St Anthony’s returned to Rift Valley with a bang, as they clinched boys’ basketball, rubby15s and hockey titles.

The four had moved to the Metropolitan and Nzoia Regions in 2013.

Kaya Tiwi, Sinyolo Girls and Upper Hill are the only 2016 national champions, who will seek to defend their titles at the national games.

But for Friends School Kamusinga and Bungoma High, things were thick after they failed to go pas the regional games. Kamusinga lost 1-0 to Musingu in boys’ hockey final, while Bungoma lost in rugby15s at the group stage.

St Joseph’s Kibwezi of Makueni won the Eastern girls’ hockey crown following their 2-0 victory over Moi Girls Marsabit.

Nairobi boys hockey champions Dr Ribeiro Parklands will make their national debut this year. They beat Upper Hill 3-2 in the final.

North Eastern Region will host their games next week.

Meanwhile, Bura Girls High School of Taita Taveta County will be making their maiden in next month’s national games after they were crowned Coast Region girls’ hockey champions.   —Additional reporting by Ernest Ndunda.