Members of the John Mills girls' 4x400m team (from left) Shenell Reid, Shantel Williams, Kaycia Myles and Shana-Kay Cousins celebrating victory last year. - file

DEFENDING champions John Mills will be looking to retain their title when the two-day 2008 Institute of Sports (Insport) sponsored Junior High Boys and Girls Track and Field Championships begins to-morrow at the National Stadium. Action starts at 8:30 a.m. each day.

Twenty-four schools are down to participate in the champion-ships with John Mills seeking their 14th successive hold on the winning trophy.

Seven finals are down to be contested tomorrow, the Class One girls high jump, Class Three boys long jump, Class Two girls high jump, girls shot put open, Class Three girls long jump, Class Two boys high jump and Class One boys long jump.

John Mills' main rivals are expected to be Windward Road. Last year, John Mills won with an overall score of 490.5 points with Windward Road second on 452.5, followed by Mico Practising 179, Swallowfield 158 and Red Hills 150.5.

John Mills took the girls' section with 278.5 points from Windward Road 216 and Swallowfield third with 83 points, while Windward Road emerged winners of the boys' section with 236.5 points followed by John Mills 212 and Mico Practising 106 points.

"The championships should be competitive as all the schools will be coming to dethrone us," John Mills coach Ransford Spaulding said yesterday.

Spaulding added that he had two secret weapons in the Class One boys events where Nicholas Lindsay will run the 100m and 400m and Ricardo Rose will compete in the 200m and 400m.

The girls to watch are Diana Cordwell in the Class Two 200m and 400m and Racquel Ricketts in the Class Three girls 100m and 200m. Shantal Williams should also do well in the 400m and Shanakay Cousins in the 100m and 200m in Class Two.

Meanwhile, Dennis Kildare, coach of Windward Road said he has lost some athletes but still expects to mount a strong challenge.

"I have an all-round team and can make an impact, but John Mills are always a force to reckon with," Kildare said.

The Windward Road coach said his Class Two and Three boys and girls teams will be very strong and he expects to do well in all the relays.

Other participating schools are Breaton, Calabar, Castleton, Central Branch, Dallas, Green Park, Hayes, Maverly, Melrose, New Day, Red Hills, Rock Hall, Seaward, Shortwood Practising, St Mary's, Swallowfield, Balcombe Drive, Greenwich, Norman Gardens and Whitfield.