JOHN MILLS will go in search of their 10th consecutive title when the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Junior High and All-Age Track and Field Championships start today at the National Stadium.
Twenty-three schools, including two newcomers and three which did not compete last year, are down to participate at the two-day meet, which is scheduled to begin at 9:00 each morning. Water Mount from St. Catherine and Brandon Hill are the two first-time entrants while Rennock Lodge, Swallow-field and Central Branch are returning to the fold.
The other schools that will be battling for honours are Windward Road, Red Hills, Rock Hall, Mico Practising, Shortwood Practising, Constant Spring, St. Mary's All-Age, Balcombe Drive, Norman Gardens, Clarendon's Green Park, Stony Hill, Seaward, Castleton and Rock River of St. Mary, Melrose, St. Margaret's and Maverley.
Defending champs John Mills are seeking their 13th overall title and their main threat is expected to come from Windward Road, which cut their dominance with a victory of their own in 1995.
"Based on the previous championships, I see Windward Road as my main challenger," John Mills' coach Ransford Spaulding said. "But Mico Practising should also do well as I have a big respect for them as they are well organised.
"I don't think there are any other schools putting out the effort as I have seen in the past as Windward Road," he added.
John Mills won both the boys' and girls' sections in emphatic fashion last year for a combined victory margin of 179.5 points and it will take a significant improvement from their arch-rival, as well as Red Hills and Rock Hall which ended in the respective third and fourth positions last year, to deny them another win.
