Recap of the 2019 Penn Relays

The Penn Relays celebrated its 125th anniversary or quasquicentennial, at the Franklin Field Stadium, between Thursday, April 25, 2019 and Saturday, April 27, 2019. The celebration saw numerous dominant performances by Jamaican high schools both on the track and in the field. 

Pinnock & Chang Win

Boy's Champs and CARIFTA Games champion, Kingston College's Wayne Pinnock, won the long Jump for the second consecutive year, in 7.87m, just one centimeter shy of his last year's mark of 7.88m. Jordan Turner of Calabar was second in 7.59m. Shaquille Lowe, also of the famed purples, Kingston College (‘KC”), finished third in 7:42m, to round out the top three finishers.

Calabar's Kai Chang was in a class all by himself, throwing well over 60 meters to win the High School Boy's Discus. No other thrower was able to join him in the "60m club". Chang, the Boys and Girls Champs, and CARIFTA Games champion was in a no-nonsense mood, reeling off massive throws of 64.87m, 64.80m and 62.82m, before unleashing a massive 66.42m.
Daniel Cope of Petersfield could barely cope, and was second in 59.42m. Meanwhile, Paul Brennan of Princeton was third with a creditable effort of 56.99m.

Romell Plummer of KC who has been unbeaten in the 400m hurdles all seasons, tasted defeat for the very first time, playing second fiddle to Ryler Gould of Newburg Free Academy out of New York. In what was a much anticipated and keenly contested event, Gould stopped the clock in 52.55 seconds to Plumber's 52.58 seconds. Third place went to Edward Richardson III of Bethel High out of Virginia who stopped the clock in 52.67 seconds.

Edwin Allen and St. Jago are 4x100 champions

On Friday, April 26, 2019, history was created when the Edwin Allen's quartet of Serena Cole, Kevona Davis, Tia Clayton and Tina Clayton won the High School Girl's 4 x100m Championship final, stopping the clock in 43.62 seconds, a new record. The winning time of 43.62 seconds erased the old mark of 43.94, which was incidentally set by Edwin Allen back in 2017. The Edwin Allen team completed six wins on the trot during the 3-day Carnival and was voted the 2019 Penn Relay team of the year.

Favorites, Kingston College, suffered a big upset at the hands of St. Jago High School. The quartet of Rasheed Broadwell, Vashaun Vaccianna, Javari Thomas and Kavian Kerr posted 40.83 seconds to win the Boys 4 x 100m Championship final. The KC unchanged quartet of Wayne Pinnock, Rashsun Rowe, Shaquille Lowe and Oshane Peart finished second in 40.86. Poor baton exchange between Lowe and Peart, robbed KC of what appeared to have been a certain victory. Questions are also being asked by fans as to why Jevaughn Powell did not run the third leg, with Cargill on the anchor. Clearly, Powell was not injured as he ran the third leg of the 4 x 400m Championship final.
 

Holmwood and Calabar win 4x400

Jamaican high school and many times champion, Holmwood Technical, upstaged Edwin Allen, to win the High School Girl's 4 x 400m Championship final. The quartet of Danaille Brissette (54.30), Daniella Deer (54.20), Rickann Russell (55.07) and Kavia Francis (53.61) posted 3.37.20 to win the event. The highly fancied Edwin Allen's quartet of Oneika McAnuff (54.30), Garriel White (55.40), Tafarra Rose (56.21) and Charokee Young (52.08)  was seeking their three straight title posted 3:38:01 for second place.

In the High School Boy's 4 x 400m Championship final, the Calabar quartet of Nile McLaymont (48.90), Romario Northover (48.70), Shevoir Reid (48.34) and Evaldo Whitehorn (46.77) stopped the clock in 3:12:66, to beat the KC quartet of Kobe Simpson (48.7), Tarees Rhoden ( 48.1), Jevaughn Powell (48.49) and Shantamoi Brown (48.39), in an overall time of 3:13: 65. Unfortunately, Excelsior High had to settle for fourth in 3:14.92, after the US-based Bullis High displaced them, to finished third in 3:14:40.
 

Edwin Allen and Calabar outlast the competition

Edwin Allen posted 8:54:02 seconds to win the High School Girl's 4 x 800m Championship final. The quartet consisted of Jessica McLean (2:14:77), Kayann Green (2:11:21), Nadine Rose (2:12:71) and Rushana Dwyer (2:15:34).

In the boy's equivalent, Calabar posted 7:36.61 with Devannah Gayle (1:55.04), Kevroy Venson (1:53.08), Rivaldo Marshall (1:53.60) and Kimar Farquharson (1:54.90) to win the High School Boys' 4x800 Championship final. The Kingston College quartet of Giovanni Henry (1:56:55), Gianni Henry (1:54:01), Khabeela Mills (1:53:82) and Tarees Rhoden (1:56:59) posted 7:40:96, to finish second.
 

Jamaica secured two wins in USA vs the World

In the women 4 x 100m USA versus the rest of the world, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison, Schillonie Calvert and Sashalee Forbes, combined to win in 43.19 seconds. Canada was second in 44.37. And the USA red and USA blue were third and fourth in 44.40 and 44. 60, respectively.  Fraser-Pryce ran a brilliant 1^st leg to give the Jamaicans the edge after the first exchange. Morrison ran an excellent back stretch and Calvert ran an excellent curve to give Forbes the baton 5-7m ahead. 

The women 4 x 400m USA versus the rest of the world, was also won by Jamaica. The quartet of Shericka Jackson (51.60), Janieve Russell (52 50), Christine Day (52.41) and Stephanie McPherson (52.47) posted 3:28:94 to win ahead of Jamaica Green with Roneisha McGregor (53.7), Anatasia Leroy (52.3), Rhonda Whyte (53.21) and Tiffany James (51.78) that finished second in 3:31.04. Canada was third in 3:31:63.

The USA Red team won the men's 4 x 100m USA versus the rest of the world in 38.80 seconds. Canada was second in 38.94, and USA Blue stopped the clock in 39.16.

In the men's 4 x400m USA versus the rest of the world, the USA Red won in 3:02:70, ahead of Canada 3:04:52 and the Bahamas 3:05:58.

Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah), Sports Writer 

Edwin Allen team ( Serena Cole, Kevona Davis, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton) Picture courtesy of Joe Swift Photography