Edwin’s quartet of 800-metre runners unstoppable

THE 4X800-METRE open for high school girls at this Saturday’s Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium is scheduled to take place at 3:40 p.m., and defending champions and record holders Edwin Allen look set to continue their winning ways in the event.

The team from Frankfield, Clarendon, will be hoping to make it seven wins in a row, with their last defeat coming in 2014 at the hands of Holmwood Technical.

Undoubtedly, Edwin Allen have the most outstanding set of middle-distance female athletes in high school in this group, and it will take a brave man to bet against any quartert that is sent out over the distance.

At the recent Western Relays at the GC Foster College of Sports and Physical Education, the quartet of Rushana Dwyer, Jessica McLean, Monique Stewart, and Rickeisha Simms shook off the early challenges of former middle-distance powerhouses Holmwood Technical for an impressive win in a respectable 8:48.57 seconds.

After outstanding individual performances at last Saturday’s JAAA PUMA Development meet in the two-lap event, Edwin Allen will be eyeing the Gibson McCook record of 8:46.40 set in 2018. McLean was part of that record-breaking quartet. In her final year competing at the Gibson McCook Relays for her school, she will want to lead her team to a massive win and leave in style.

Holmwood did show glimpses of being the kind of team that won in 2014, but despite a few outstanding individual performers, they do not have the depth to trouble the defending champions here.

With their awesome fire power, Edwin Allen is the only competition here, with teams like St Jago and Hydel competing for the minor placings.