Thrissur: Palakkad district emerged as the overall champions of the state schools athletics meet at Kunnamkulam here on Friday.
It was Palakkad's third overall title in a row. With 28 gold, 27 silver and 12 bronze, Palakkad were a class apart as they topped the table with 266 points.
Malappuram finished a distant second on 168 points and Kozhikode were placed third on 95 points.
The icing on the cake for Palakkad was a meet record by one of its athletes on the final day of the event.
In the senior boys' 800 metre final, Chittur's Bejoy J broke an 11-year-old record (1:51.77) in the name of Lijo Mani with a timing of 1:51.13.
Kasaragod thrower Servan KC went home with a second record-gold. The discus throw champion, clinched gold in senior boys' shot put as well, and did so in style as his effort of 17.58 metre rendered history a 2018 mark of 16.53m in the name of Alex P Thankachan.
Meanwhile, EHSS Kadakassery in Malappuram bagged the Best School title thanks to 23 medals its athletes secured at the meet. That tally comprised five gold and seven silver medals.
