The second day of the 57th Kerala State Schools Athletics Championships was further testimony to the growing clout of Palakkad in the state’s track and field scene.
While the defending champions have been traditionally strong in long distance events, Palakkad have claimed gold medals across all three classes - track, jumps and throws - to maintain their lead in this edition.
On Sunday, Palakkad athletes clinched 12 yellow metals to stay atop the overall standings with 18 gold, 5 silver and 13 bronze medals for a total of 118 points. They had won six gold on the opening day.
Meanwhile, hosts Ernakulam won five gold medals in the day to add to the four they had won on Saturday. With 99 points in their kitty, they are in hot pursuit to regain the title they had surrendered last year in Thiruvananthapuram.
Palakkad won three gold medals each from jumps and throws while picking up six first places from the track in varied events like 100m and 400m sprints, 400m hurdles, 5,000m and 5km walk.
Ernakulam managed to take the lead only in the junior girls’ category with 23 points. Palakkad are third in the section with 11 points.
Meanwhile, Wayanad were leading the sub-junior boys section with 11 points, with Palakkad in the fourth spot with 4 points.
In the fight for the best school title however, it is a school from Ernakulam - Mar Basil HSS, Kothamangalam - that has grabbed the lead midway through the four-day meet.
They have collected 45 points, including 5 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze.
Defending champions St George’s HSS, also from Kothamangalam, however, are in the fourth spot with 36 points.