Watch St Jago’s girls in Penn 4x400m
THE GIRLS’ high school 4x400 metres will attract a lot of attention at this weekend’s Penn Relays in Philadelphia as the event could prove to be very competitive with Hydel High, St Jago High, Holmwood Technical, Vere Technical and Edwin Allen High expected to have a close battle.
The Corey Bennett-coached Hydel, led by Roneisha McGregor and Shian Salmon, will be hoping for their first success in a Championships Relay as they have been the form team this season. The school clocked 3:35.15 at the ISSA Boys and Girls’ Championships last month and will have the top time going into the meet. In that event, they turned back St Jago (3:36.47) and Holmwood (3:36.60).
Coach Keilando Goburn, after seeing his girls doing so well in the 400 metres at Champs, will be very motivated as one of his top 400m runners, Class Three champion Joanne Reid, was not a part of his 4x400m team and with her now coming in the squad for Penns, the lanky runner could make a big difference. St Jago will be hoping to end their long drought here with their last victory coming in 2000.
Holmwood challenged Edwin Allen strongly last year, but anchor-leg runner Ashley Williams fell, and they will be hoping to recoup losses. They won at the Gibson McCook Relays and could make it their first win since 2011 at the Penn Relays.
SUCCESSFUL GIRLS’ TEAM
Vere Technical will be hoping to add another title to their cupboard here as they are one of the most successful girls’ teams at this meet and are anxious for another title since their last win in 2013.
Defending champions Edwin Allen will be hoping to make it four wins in a row in the event. Last year, they were considered underdogs, but showed in 2016 that they enjoy competing at the Penn Relays. They have not been competitive this season, but with two members from the past two winning teams – Patrice Moodie and Janiel Moore – still at school, they could use their experience here to surprise their more fancied rivals.
A close one is expected here with St Jago, who will parade young Reid, Kimora Francis and Alysha Kelly getting the slight edge to top their rivals.