10 Raymond KC Graham/Gleaner Writer WEEKS AFTER brilliant performances at the Issa Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships and the recent Carifta Games in The Bahamas, Jamaican high school athletes are expected to produce dominant performance when they journey to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to participate at the 127th staging of the Penn Relays from April 27-29. The biggest relay carnival in the world, which highlights mega high school clashes between Jamaican and their United States counterparts, the athletes from ‘the land of wood and water’ look set for another three days of exhilarating performances just like they have done over the years. Despite adjustments to the schedule of the meet, where high school females will showcase their talents on a Saturday for the first time, as they will compete on Friday and Saturday while their male counterparts to do so on a Thursday and Friday, this should not affect the usually large turnout of fans at the meet. Jamaicans in the diaspora usually turn out in large numbers to support their alma maters, and to enjoy a weekend lyming with friends who they normally see once a year. Despite most fans missing last year’s epic 4x100-mclashbetween EdwinAllen andHydel in a feisty contest where both teams had five of the fastest junior female sprinters in the world on show, both teams produced sub-44 seconds clocking, another great clash is anticipated this year. EdwinAllen took pride of place then, winning in a record 43.18 seconds for their fourth-ever sub -4 seconds clocking at the relays, whileHydel was second in43.69 seconds for their first-ever under-the-44-seconds barrier. The two teams are expected to take the expectedmassive crowd in frenzy on Saturday. Edwin Allen, which has not lost the event since winning in 2014 will be without the Clayton twins, Tia andTina, while Hydel will be without Kerrica Hill and Brianna Lyston, but both teams still have the fire power to make the event very special once again. Hydel will be hoping to win their first title andwill be led by Alana Reid, the newnational junior 100-m record-holder, who clocked 10.92 to win the Class 1 event at Champs, the first girls’sub-11 seconds at that the championship. Jamaican school rivalries continue at Penn Relays! Hydel, Edwin Allen girls expected to sizzle, JC, KC, C’down among boys Kingston College’s Kenyan pair of Brian Kiprop (right) and Nahashon Ruto are well ahead of their rivals in the Class Two boys 1500metres at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys andGirls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium. KENYON HEMNAS/PHOTOGRAPHER PLEASE SEE JAMAICA, 12 THE MONTHLY GLEANER | APRIL 17 - MAY 23, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: PENN RELAYS carnival organisers have tinkered with the programme and will have the girls taking pride of place during Saturday’s final day, instead of the boys. The reasons for the programme changes are unclear, but there is enough speculation to go around the iconic Benjamin Franklin, ranging from the increased participation and support from Grace Foods, more visibility for title/presenting sponsor-Toyota, the withdrawal of the USAT&F, an amicable divorce with NIKE, the absence of the USA v The World (Jamaica) featured segment, as well as the need to spread the crowd over the three days. The carnival will have a different look and feel this year, something that is of concern to NewYorker DonovanWilson, a St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) alum, now president of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA), and a proud supporter of the PRC since the 1980s. “If one did not know the history of the Penn Relays, this change would not be cause for concern or comment. The USA vs TheWorld (read USA vs Jamaica) events are gone. Now we just have Olympic Development events. I suppose that athletes from other countries will be invited to participate in those events,” he theorised. STETHS finished in the top 10 among girls at the recently concluded Boys and Girls athletics championship and are expected to take part in this year’s pilgrimage. Wilson said the overall schedule (this year) seems geared to showcase college athletes, not high school athletes, especially on the final day considering that of the 44 events on Saturday, only three will feature the schoolgirls, with nine being Olympic development and 22 for colleges. The girls will have the opportunity to showcase their talents before 45,000 - 60,000 spectators on Saturday. Another significant change is the introduction of the ‘Power Hour’, starting at 4:25 p.m., Friday and ending 5:50 p.m. This section will start with the girls DMR mile and 3,000m, then the boys will take the track for the same events, and conclude with the Championship of America 4x800-m relay. Penn Relays make events change to showcase girls
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=