Jamaica to dominate Penn Relays

St Elizabeth Technical’s Peter-Gaye Reid and teammate Rochelle Farquharson along with Edwin Allen’s Nikita Tracy gave Jamaica a good start on yesterday’s opening day of the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.



Tracey handed Jamaica a flying start by taking gold in the High School Girls’ 400-metre hurdles in a time of 57.44. She won ahead of her Jamaican teammate Daniele Dowie of Wolmer’s Girls School.



Reid took the High Schools Girls High Jump Championships by clearing 1.80 metres to equal her personal best.



Farquharson, who broke the Under 17 triple jump record at the recent CARIFTA Games, won by clearing 12.54 metres.



Jamaican high schools are set to dominate today’s second day.



The first final involving Jamaican teams will run off at noon Jamaica time as defending champions Holmwood Technical, Edwin Allen and Manchester High will compete in the 4 x 800-metre final.



Holmwood Technical are the fastest qualifiers with nine minutes 08.23 seconds ahead of Manchester High and Edwin Allen.



At 1.42 p.m. six local teams will seek victory in the 4 x 100-metre relay Championships of America final where Edwin Allen are the defending champions.



In the 4 x 800-metre relay final Holmwood Technical advanced with the fastest time ahead of Vere Technical.



The Boys competition starts today.