Round One of World Record Jumping Jack Contest a Success

Those walking down Haddon Avenue Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. came to an abrupt stop in front of .

It's where 11 children had gathered in a line, all of them successfully completing a full minute of jumping jacks.

The jumping jack challenge was part one of 's two-session fitness incentive, spurred by First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign.

paired with National Geographic Kids magazine in to break Guinness Book of World Record's title for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period.

A national affair, it's reported that to break the current record, more than 20,000 people around the country must perform jumping jacks for one minute between the hours of 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

And 's first round of jumping jacks was a complete success, with each of Tuesday's total 11 jumpers completing the 1-minute fitness challenge.

"I'm here because I want to be in the (Guinness) world records book 2012," said 9-year-old Cherry Hill boy Noah Beasley Tuesday, just before the contest began. "We heard about ('s jumping jack event) at school, from our teacher. She told us if we want to be in 's contest, we could just tell our moms about it and they'd take us."

And Noah's mother did just that—adding that Noah's teacher lives in Collingswood—even bringing along her daughter, Star Beasley, on Tuesday.

"I'd like to be in the world record, of course," said Star prior to the contest. "But I also like to be active, and I like doing sports to stay fit. And I want to prove to myself that I can do jumping jacks for one minute straight."

Star successfully completed the feat, along with friend Christopher Scutti, 9, of Cherry Hill, who said his motive for joining Tuesday's jump was purely fitness.

"I want to be active," Chris said, pausing to rub his chin before adding, "For a whole minute."

Collingswood residents were also part of the day's festivities. The Coulombe family had three representatives in Tuesday's event: brothers Miles, 7; Jeremy, 5; and Trevor, 3.

"(I came today) because it's a world record. Because we're going to get in that book," Jeremy said, his face full of conviction. "I've already tried doing jumping jacks for one minute, and I can do it."

Michele Coulombe, mother to the boys, added her family's secret formula to succeeding in Tuesday's contest.

"We've actually been practicing (jumping jacks) all weekend long," she said. "We read about the event on Collingswood Patch, and so we're well-prepared."

Jeremy's older brother Miles was just as enthusiastic about the group's success.

"I'm here to do those jumping jacks and get in the (Guinness Book of) World Records," said Miles, stamping a tiny foot to settle the issue.

And just before 4:30 p.m., employees of finished signing-in jumpers—documenting each child's name and age—and explained the rules.

One employee, after noticing a few children practicing before the event, even offered kindly advice, stating, "You might want to stay still until we start; you don't want to tire yourselves out!"

All 11 jumpers took this advice very seriously, standing still until the contest began. After a successful minute-long jump, one staffer announced that he'd be sending results to the National Geographic Kids magazine office in Washington.

A roar ripped through the crowd of children, who ran to hug their parents and received congratulatory praise from all.

–the final session—of 's 24-hour jumping jack contest will take place Wednesday morning at 11 a.m.

Featured jumpers? Borough Mayor James Maley, and Commissioners Joan Leonard and Mike Hall.

Good luck to Wednesday's jumpers, and congratulations to Tuesday's winners!