What with the smoke from Riverton hanging over the city and the unfortunately regular assortment of bad news, it seems time for some good news. Champs, the annual track and field competition for high school athletes, is underway, and records are already being broken. Formally know as the Grace Kennedy ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, the competition includes track and field events like sprinting, high jump and hurdles. It is often a showcase for future track superstars.

And right now, the city is awash in high school colors (the most popular being green and purple) and people are enjoying the enthusiasm and loyalty that come with watching these young athletes push themselves after months of hard training. Hopefully, the smoke is not affecting their performance, although we are being told the fire has been extinguished.

Pictured here is Calabar’s Lamar Reid, who broke a 22-year record in the high jump by reaching 1.99 meters. Congratulations to all athletes.