Defending champions Kenya took an early lead on the first day of the Eastern Africa Athletics Youth Championships which started at Namboole Stadium in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso on Friday.

The Kenyan youngsters grabbed top honors in most of the seven events lined up for the day.

Apart from the 100m for women which was won by Uganda's Maureen Banura and Scovia Ayikoru settling for a silver medal, the other races were comfortably won by the Kenyans.

The men's 100m races saw Kenya's duo of Duke Ogotio and Josohat Mutuku take gold and silver respectively, while Uganda's Sam Kakaire settled for bronze.

The Kenyan duo of Sheila Chepngetick and Jarinter Mawia dominated in the women's 800m race.

Kenya again came out top in the men's high jump with Collins Kibet winning gold, while Uganda's Alex Okirorand Geoffrey Kidega came second and third respectively.

Uganda's Evelyn Acan won gold in the women's long jump, while another Ugandan Evelyn Acan bagged silver.

In the men's 100m, Uganda's medal hopeful Jimmy Kidega made a poor start and fell after taking off the blocks.Dominic Otucet, Chairman ofthe Uganda Athletics Federation said that he was disappointed by the way his athletes performed on day one.

He hoped that they will perform better on day two, the last day of the event.

The event which is being used to prepare athletes for the forth coming World Youth Championships in Barcelona, Spain has attracted Kenya, Djibouti, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.

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