Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Lamar Samuel of Calabar Junior High, completing his winning leap of 5.61m in the Class One long jump on yesterday's first day of the Insport Junior High Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium. - LeVaughn Flynn

Defending champions John Mills Junior High have taken a slim lead ahead of arch rivals Windward Road Primary and Junior High after yesterday's first day of two-day Institute of Sports (Insport)/ Junior High Schools Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium.

John Mills lead with a combined total of 69 points, 9.5 ahead of Windward Road on 60.5 points. They are followed by Calabar Junior High (41), Red Hills All-Age (12), Swallowfield Junior High 7.5 and Mico Practising (6).

John Mills are also leaders in both male and female sections. They lead the male section with 35 points, four ahead of Windward Road on 31. And in the female section, John Mills are on 34, followed by Windward Road on 29.5.

Natassia Scarlett of John Mills got her team off to an impressive start when she won the Class Two high jump with a leap of 1.39m. Calabar's Tamoya Walter, 1.36m, and Tishande Ellis of Swallowfield, 1.27m were second and third respectively.

Ronique Gray, also of John Mills, then captured the girls' Class Three long jump with a leap of 4.76m beating the Windward Road's Mistry Chisholm (4.41m) and Makeba East, 4.30. Crystal Tapper of Red Hills won the Class One girls high jump with a best of 1.45m ahead of Monique Thompson of Windward Road, 1.43m, and Regina King of John Mills, 1.43m.

Lamar Samuel of Calabar captured the boys' Class One long jump with a leap of 5.61m. Windward Road's Xavian Telfer (5.37m) was second and Lamar Morgan of John Mills (5.31), third.

Martel Brown of Windward Road won the boys' Class Two high jump with a leap of 1.72m. His teammate Kemar Johnson, 1.69m, was second and Davian Douglas of John Mills, 1.56m, was third.

Calabar's Shacquille Linton leapt 5.00m to claim the boys' Class Three long jump ahead of John Mills' pair, Brandon Sewell 5.00m and Rashawn Anderson 4.80m.

From left, Kadesha Green of Windward Road Junior High, Shanalie Heslop of Rock Hall All-Age and Karisa Brown of Norman Gardens Junior High competing yesterday in the Class Three girls 200 metres at the Insport Junior High Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium. - LeVaughn Flynn