Holmwood girls ready to defend 4x400m title
AFTER pulling off an upset win in the 2019 Championships of America High School girls 4x400 metres final to deny favourites Hydel High School, coach Dave Anderson of defending champions Holmwood Technical High School is eyeing another giant- killing act at this year’s Penn Relays.
Like they were in 2019, Holmwood are the third-ranked Jamaican team in the event with a best of three minutes 38.34 seconds after finishing third twice, behind Hydel and Edwin Allen High School, at the Gibson McCook Relays and the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships (Champs). Hydel, with a season’s best 3:33.76 when winning ahead of Edwin Allen (3:37.21) at the Gibson McCook Relays, are again overwhelming favourites to win the event.
Anderson is very optimistic about his team’s chances of pulling off another surprise win.
“Holmwood are ready to defend their 4x400m title. I rate our chances very highly because my squad is now fully healthy and confident. At Champs two of my girls were carrying niggling injuries but everybody is now fully fit,” Anderson told STAR Sports. His squad includes Rosealee Gallimore, Torian Noad, Kiara Meikle, twin sisters Abriana and Abrina Wright and Rickiann Russell who was a member of the winning quartet in 2019.
Anderson is taking no chances and his team is in Philadelphia well ahead of Thursday’s start of the relay carnival.
“We have been in Philadelphia from last Saturday getting in some practice and getting used to the weather conditions. I respect the other teams but if they don’t turn up ready we will be there to seize the opportunity. For the past couple of Penn Relays, we have not been favoured to win any event but we always find a way to prove the doubters wrong,” said Anderson.
Holmwood girls will also be competing in the 4x100m and 4x800m relays while Cedricka Williams will contest the high school girls discus throw.