Defending Champions, Gambia Senior Secondary School will be faced with the task of retaining the title of the National Inter-school Athletics Championship which will kick off later today at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The 2008 inter-schools champions target is not only to win the 2009 Inter-school Championship but for the next two years.

The weekend championship will wrapped up on Sunday.

It will be recalled that in the final of the 2008 Inter-school Championship, Gambia High school , as it is fondly called, registered 467points.

Bottrop Senior Secondary School from Western Region came out second with 325 points followed by Saints, who made what looked like a disappointing performance last year by only picking 195 points.

Pakalinding topped the junior category with 229, followed by Latrikunda Junior Secondary School with 190 points. Abuko Secondary School occupied 3rd position with 137 points.

The annual Inter-school Championship will bring together schools from across the country to compete in different events ranging from field to track events.