Two students of Corporate Area high schools were stabbed yesterday in feuds associated with the rivalry between schools participating in the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships.

The students were stabbed in separate incidents which happened after they left the National Stadium, where the third day's staging of the event took place.

In one of the incidents, a 16-year-old boy from one of the schools was stabbed while he was travelling along Trafalgar Road. He was taken to the University Hospital of The West Indies where he was still being treated up to press time.

The other student was said to have been stabbed in his hand by another student of a rival school after a dispute.

The Half-Way Tree police are investigating both incidents.

Opposing schools in the Championships have for years been involved in intense rivalry that has led to several students being stabbed and beaten.

The police, in an effort to prevent these incidents, have implemented several measures to stem the violence. Among the measures taken are the banning of pre- and post-celebration fetes associated with the Championships.

Last week Thursday, the Police High Command issued a statement that they would not grant permission for any fetes or school marches during the week of Champs.

Acting deputy commissioner of police in charge of the Operations, Glenmore Hinds, had said in the release that the move was necessary as, " Having done our risk assessment, we have decided to take these measures in order to ensure that we are best able to properly secure this major sporting event."

He further said that in the period leading up to Champs they were noticing an increase in the incidents of violence involving high school students.

The officer also said that security would be intensified at the National Stadium for the event.

The 100th staging of the Championships will end later tonight after kicking off with a spectacular ceremony on Tuesday night.