Penn Relays: Edwin Allen in three finals

FRANKLIN FIELD, Philadelphia

Inter-secondary champions Edwin Allen High stole the show on yesterday’s opening day of competition for high-school girls at the 130th staging of the Penn Relays, in Franklin Field, Philadelphia.

The Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen emerged the top Jamaican high-school team after qualifying for three Championship of America finals.

Sharing the spotlight are two field event athletes, Marla Kay Lampart of Clarendon College and Zavien Bernard of Hydel High who captured the high-school girls’ Championships of America shot put and triple jump events, respectively, both producing big marks on their sixth and final attempts.

Lampart, who has been troubled with a shoulder injury all season, bounced back to good form with a heave of 14.41m in the shot put. Sage Cruickshank of Convent of Mercy (Alpha) ended seventh in the event with a mark of 12.61m.

Bernard produced a wind-aided 12.76m (+3.1m/s) to win the triple jump. Mikayla Longmore of Holmwood Technical was fifth with 12.31m.

Edwin Allen, the defending champions in the 4x100m Championship of America event, are the fastest qualifiers ahead of today’s final after clocking 45.63 seconds to win their heat. They will run out of lane six in the 1:15 p.m. (Jamaica time) final.

They will be joined by three other Jamaican teams. St Jago High were the fourth fastest qualifiers after winning their heat in 45.73, Excelsior High were seventh fastest in 46.03, while Mount Alvernia High were eighth fastest in 46.35. St Jago will run out of lane nine, while Mt Alvernia will come out of lane one and Excelsior, lane three. Bullis High and Pennsauken High out of New Jersey were the top United States qualifiers. Both clocked 45.68.

Eight Jamaican teams who failed to reach the Championship of America final will contest the Consolation International final. Convent of Mercy (Alpha) will lead the teams here after qualifying with 46.75. Holmwood Technical were next with 46.98. The other Jamaican teams in the Consolation final are St Mary High, Vere Technical, Penwood High, Manchester High, William Knibb Memorial High and first-time Penn Relays entrants Meadowbrook High.

In the opening event yesterday, the 4x800m, four Jamaican teams, led by second-fastest qualifiers Sydney Pagon High, have booked their spots in today’s final set for 5:25 p.m. Sydney Pagon won their heat in 9:01.33, ahead of Edwin Allen (9:02.66), the third-fastest qualifiers, while Alphansus Davis won their heat in 9:08.30 to be the sixth-fastest qualifiers. Holmwood are also through after finishing third in their heat in 9:14.80 to be the ninth-fastest qualifiers.

The fastest qualifiers were William Penn High out of Pennsylvania, who won their heat in a smart 8:56.14. Defending champions, Florida-based IMG Academy, won their heat in 9:05.28 to head into the final as the fourth-fastest qualifiers.

Edwin Allen booked their spot in a third final after winning their 4x400m heat in 3:39.56 to be the second-fastest qualifiers for today’s final, which gets under way at 4:55 p.m.

Defending champions Hydel High will be aiming to make it five wins in a row after clocking 3:39.55 to emerge as the fastest qualifiers. Other Jamaican teams in the final are Holmwood (3:39.82) and Alphansus Davis (3:44.81).

The Americans will be well represented by Bullis (3:40.24) and Pennsauken, and this one will really bring the house down, as it should be an epic battle in which any number can play.