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Jamaica enjoy good final day at Penn Relays

By Karen Madden reporting from Franklin Field, Philadelphia, 

More than 49,000 spectators, a large percentage of them Jamaicans, were on hand Saturday as Jamaican schools turned in good performances though often mixed with disappointment. 

Although the dramatic court action, renouncing of contract and reinstatement of the amateur status of Michael O’Hara at one point threatened to steal the show, the general consensus is that track and field was the eventual winner.  The lower than normal temperatures which was a big factor on Thursday and Friday, gave some respite on Saturday,  making conditions much more comfortable for the athletes.

The highlight of Saturday's final day is always the USA versus the Rest of the World relays. 

The first one on track was the men's 4x100 metre which was won by USA Red in 38.66 secs. the team comprised Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Isiah Young and Ryan Bailey.  Jamaica, with Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Jason Livermore and Asafa Powell had to settle for second in 38.88 seconds. It was really a no contest from the second leg when Frater could not match strides with the super fit Gatlin. USA Blue was third in 38.92 secs. That team comprised Joe Morris, Justin Walker, Maurice Mitchell and Sean McLean.

But the Jamaican Women turned the tables on the USA in the minimum sprint relay, with Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, Schillonie Calvert  - who ran an outstanding third leg to hand over to Natasha Morrison - who held on for victory in 43.70 secs.

USA with Jessica Young, Candice McGrone, Marshevet Hooker and Kaylin Whitney was second in 43.79.  Nigeria 44.22 was 3rd.    And it was time for a rousing rendition of Jamaica’s national anthem from the black, gold and green clad spectators.

Jamaica lost both the 4x200 metre  relays to the USA.  The women’s team of Shericka Williams, Anastacia Leroy, Sherone Simpson and Natasha Morrison, was just edged out by just 7/1000th of a second by the USA team, both teams officially returned 1:31:98.

In the men’s equivalent, Jamaica with Rusheen McDonald, Rasheed Dwyer, Jason Livermore and Oshane Bailey again finished second in 1:21:45 to the USA who won in 1:20:64.

In the 4x400 metre relay, Jamaica with Christine Day, Patricia Hall, Anastacia Leroy and Stephenie Ann McPherson won in 3:26:59 ahead of the USA, 3:28:42,  but the Jamaican men of Allodin Fothergill, Javon Francis, Ricardo Chambers and Rusheen McDonald had to settle for third in 3:03:02 seconds behind the United States 3:00:86 and the Bahamas 3:01:63.

The day began on a winning note for Jamaica, as Marvin Williams of ST. Elizabeth Technical High School won the 400 metre Hurdles  in 51.10 secs, faster than the 51.49 he ran for second place last year and just faster than the 51.13 Jaheel Hyde ran to win last year. 

A good day too for the University of Technology, which won the College Men's 4x 100 metre Championship of America in a time of 39.27 secs with the team of Andrew Fisher, Julian Forte, Kemarley Brown and Tyquendo Tracey

Then it was time for the schoolboys,  and it was Calabar who won in 39.63 secs with the team of Zandre Blake, Michael Ohara, Jullane Walker and Seanie Selvin.  St. Jago  39.89 with Raheem Chambers, Chad Walker, Nathon Allen and Ivan Henry was second, St. George's College third 40.17 and STETHS 4th. But it was disappointment for Kingston College who did not finish the event.  Akeem Bloomfield appeared to have suffered an injury on the second leg but managed to attempt the hand over to Twayne Crooks when the baton fell during the final exchange.

St. Elizabeth Technical held off a strong challenge from Kingston College to take the 4x800 metre Championship of America final for high school boys.  The team of Romario Guthrie, Paul Tate, Shemar Salmon and Jauavney James clocked  7:38:38 in winning ahead of Kingston College with Miguel Morrison, Chad Miller, Delano Rochester, and Twayne Crooks who clocked 7:38:54.

In the college women’s Championship of America 4x800 metres, Clemson University had Jamaica’s Natoya Goule on anchor but despite a 2:02:80 split on her leg they had to settle for second place in a time of 8:30:28 behind winners Villanova who clocked 8:26.36.

Kingston College did not report for the Championship of America 4x400 metres, due to that injury to Akeem Bloomfield. Calabar High School stole the show, as Anthony Carpenter, Aykeeme Francis, Renado Wilson and Michael O'Hara romped to victory in 3:09:97 ahead of  followed by Jamaica College 3:11:23 and St. Elizabeth Technical 3:12:71 third.

The Championship of America 4x400 metres for College Women saw UTECH with Tji-peka-pora Herunga, Shericka Jackson, Simoya Campbell and Janieve Russel finishing second in 3:31:34.  They led for much of the way but was challenged all the time by Texas who eventually won in 3:29:46, with the NCAA champion Courtney Okolo on anchor.

In the Championship of America 4x400 metre for College Men, G.C. Foster College with Alvin Green, Marzel Miller, Demish Gaye, Andre Clarke finished 6th in 3:09:98, way off the 3:02.61 clocked by Louisianna State in capturing the event.

Some success for Jamaica in the field events on Saturday as well. Juliannie Walker of Calabar won the High School Boys High Jump Championship clearing 7:45 metres while Odaine Lewis of Cornwall College won the Triple Jump Championship leaping 15.37 metres.

The three day event saw 110,587 spectators going through the turnstiles, and saw the final event running off at 6PM EST in the USA, desmonstrating the rich "on time" tradition of the Penn Relays.



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