MORE than 600 pupils headed for the track and field of Witton Park as the annual Blackburn athletics competition took on a Commonwealth Games theme.

A total of 32 schools adopted the names of countries taking part in the Games which take place for real in Manchester next month.

Kit the Commonwealth Games mascot was there to cheer on the youngsters, who launched the event with a flag waving parade, while Baxenden's 1500m hopeful Kerry Smithson handed out the awards. The event attracted children from year four to six who took part in a series of track and field events -- including 70m, 80m and 700m sprints and cricket ball throw, long jump, standing triple jump and high jump. In the longest track event of the day it was Leigh Lennon of Longshaw Primary School and Alex Brees who breezed to glory in the 700m final.

And there was plenty of excitement over the short distances contested by year three four, five and six pupils.

In the year six race, Simone Russell of Sacred Heart crossed the line first in the 80m race with Carmen Peter-Thomas of St Mary's and St Josephs winning the year five event.

The younger age groups raced over 70m and Kim Cookson of Roe Lee won the year four sprint with Natasha Wooley of Westholme winning the year three final.

In the boys event, Morgan Lewis of QEGS won the year six 80m dash with Daniel Moores of Feniscowles crossing the line first in the year five competition.

In the year four final, Adil Khan of Roe Lee was quickest out of the blocks and Declan Tierney of-Doogan picked up QEGS third individual track winner's medal after winning the year three race.

QEGS also took the honours in the 4x800m relay race with St Paul's Feniscowles winning the girls event.

In the field events, Fawad Hussain set a new record in the cricket ball throw with a mighty throw of 68.70m.

Leah Greenacre of Feniscowles won the rounders ball throw.

In the long jump event, Brian Kenyon of St Peters won the boys race with Sarah Jones of Westholme doing likewise in the girls.

Aaron Peacock gave Roe Lee their third success of the day after winning the boys standing triple jump while Sarah Jones of Westholme won the girls section.

And there were more records broken in the High Jump with Jack Mellor of QEGS clearing the bar at 1.31m.

Stephanie Hargreaves of St Peters won the girls event.