Windward Road look to defend title at INSPORTS Junior High and All Age Championships

The Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Junior High and All-Age Athletics Champion-ship runs off today at the Stadium East Complex, starting at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until 4:30 p.m. The three-day meet is set to end on Friday.

For this year's championship, INSPORTS switched the venue from the National Stadium because of the cost factor. However, meet manager Anthony Gibbs gave the assurance that the meet would be a smooth one.

"We are anticipating a highly competitive meet, which will run on schedule as it has to finish on-time each day," Gibbs told The Gleaner.

Twenty-three schools will compete, including defending champions Windward Road All-Age.

Gibbs pointed out that the meet has produced many top athletes, some of whom have gone on to represent Jamaica.

"It is a meet that has produced many stars, so INSPORTS will continue to support it in order to contribute to the development of the sport here," Gibbs stated.

Windward Road won the competition for the first time last year when they broke John Mills' 19-year winning streak.

The coach of John Mills, Ransford Spaulding, has indicated that this could be his last year in charge of the Retirement Crescent-based institution.

"I have been coaching at John Mills since 1990 and won 22 titles, including 19 straight. This could be my final year as I am also in charge of St Andrew Technical High School," Spaulding disclosed ahead of the meet yesterday.

60 per cent ready

With regard to his team's chances of taking back the crown, Spaulding said their preparation was not good.

"The preparation is not too good. It is about 60 per cent. We were affected during the holidays when a lot of students did not train regularly; however, we intend to give it our best shot," he said.

Among the other schools participating are Swallowfield, Constant Spring, Shortwood, Maverley, Mico Practising, Melrose, Cockburn Gardens, New Day, Calabar, Osborne Store, and Stony Hill.