KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former champions John Mills are the early leaders following the completion of three finals on day one of the 37th INSPORTS Junior High & All-Age Athletics Championship at the National Stadium East.
John Mills, who had their 22-year run ended last year by Windward Road, currently lead with 39 points, ahead of Windward Road (21 points) and third-placed MICO Practising on 14 points. Louise Bennett Coverley are fourth with 12.5 points, followed by Calabar (8.5 points) and are only teams to record any points on today’s opening day which saw all three finals contested in the girls category, while the final of the Class 3 boys long jump has been pushed back by a day.
Chasity Taylor and Tashi Dennis gave MICO Practising their first point of the competition when the former struck gold in the Class 3 girls high jump, winning with a mark of 1.25m. Dennis collected four points for finishing fifth, as John Mills’ Tiffany Williams secured silver with the same mark as Taylor. The Windward Road pair of Gayon Haughton and Martina Gooden were third and fourth respectively, both clearing the bar at 1.20m.
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Jonie Morgan of John Mills in action en route to winning the Class 2 girls long jump with a mark of 4.67m on day one of the 37th INSPORTS Junior High & All-Age Athletics Championship at the National Stadium East on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. (Photo: Devon Chin) |
John Mills dominated the Class 1 girls High Jump as Ashley Miller and Diandra Ellis finished one, two. Miller blew away the field to land gold with a clearance of 1.40m, while Ellis held on for second as three athletes cleared the bar at 1.25m. Shana Robinson of Louise Bennett Coverley was third with the same mark, as did Calabar’s Yohlanda Grant, who was fourth.
Another quinella was secured by John Mills, this time in the Class 2 girls long jump. Jonie Morgan won the event with a distance of 4.67m ahead of teammate Tatyawna Crawford, who recorded 4.54m. Windward Road’s Tashema Bennett was third with 4.26m.
Meantime seven finals will be contest on tomorrow’s second and penultimate day of the championship. The battle for points will be in the Class 1, 2, and 3 boys high jump, as well as the Class 1 girls long jump. Points will also be up for grab in the girls shot put Open, while the first finals on the track will be in the girls and boys 1500m Open.
