Edwin Allen a cinch for 4x100m

by Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

The 114th Penn Relays will get underway at Franklin Field, Philadelphia on April 24. The following is a preview of the high school relays for girls.

When Jamaica's high school girls' teams begin competition at this year's 114th Penn Relays, two very important questions will be asked. Can the American high school, Eleanor Roosevelt, deny the Jamaicans? Will Holmwood Technical come home empty-handed, again?

Since their first victory in 2002, Holmwood have always finished in front in at least one event at the Penn Relays. Last year, however, they finished second three times as Eleanor Roosevelt captured the 4x400m and 4x800m while Edwin Allen High gave Jamaica their only victory among the girls by taking home the 4x100m for the first time.

Once again, the Maurice Wilson-coached Holmwood could find the going very tough. Holmwood will have to overcome the likes of the defending double champions, Eleanor Roosevelt, Edwin Allen, Vere Technical and Manchester, if they are to be victorious.

Two-in-a-row?

In the 4x100m, the Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen should make it two-in-a-row. They are the only team this year to go below 46 seconds and will be hoping to improve on last year's 44.87. They have retained three members of last year's winning team in Shawna Anderson, Gayon Evans and a back-to-fitness Kaycean Jones, while they also have Naffene Briscoe, who ran in the heats last year but was replaced by Kimberly Smith in the final. Smith has left school but it will be hard to deny them victory.

The 4x400m and 4x800m should be the most competitive in years.

Eleanor Roosevelt have recorded 3:45.38 in the 4x400m running indoors in New York in February, just beating boys and girls from Brooklyn who did 3:46.25.

Holmwood Technical with 3:36.44 and 3:36.80 at Girls' Championships and Gibson Relays, respectively, have the two fastest times going into the Penn Relays. At both meets they ran without an injured Keno Heaven who is expected to be back to fitness and will definitely help to bolster their team which includes the little dynamite Bobby-Gaye Wilkins who ran an impressive sub-51 seconds split on the anchor leg to give her team victory at Girls' Championships after 30m behind in fourth spot.

The conditions will be different at the Penn Relays and if Wilkins finds herself in this position, then it could be too difficult this time around as Edwin Allen, Vere and Manchester will all be bolstering their teams.

Vere Technical, who came second in 3:36.82 at Girls' Championships, could go all the way as they ran without their outstanding Class Three athlete Sherika Jackson and she will now join forces with the likes of Jura Levy and Kayon Robinson and give the team from Hayes, Clarendon, a long overdue victory.

Manchester High without Shauna Gaye Tracy recorded 3:39.60 to finish fourth at Boys' and Girls' Championships but they have a best time of 3:38.77, achieved when they came third at the Gibson Relays. With Denisha Morris and the improved Natoya Goule in their line-up, they could also spring a surprise.

The team to beat, however, could be the Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen High. They had a big lead on the anchor leg at the Boys' and Girls' Champion-ships but Nikita Tracy could not hold on as they faded into third in 3:37.06. It is expected that Kaycean Jones, who ran the anchor leg at the Penn Relays last year, will be back in the team after only doing the third leg (200m) in the Medley Relay at Boys' and Girls' Championships. She will make a big difference in the 4x400m as Edwin Allen will be highly motivated following their expected 4x100m victory.

Last year, Holmwood's Wilkins was edged out at the finish by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 4x800m, but this time around Wilkins, who ran a sub-2:05 800m at the UTech Invitational meet, will be hoping to recoup losses and end her sojourn at the Penn Relays on a high. She will join forces with two members of last year's team, Keno Heaven and Shantea McLean.

Despite losing, the Jameson twins, Tameika and Takecia, who are both on track scholarship, at Miami University, defending champions Eleanor Roosevelt should not be taken lightly. At the New Balance Indoor Meet at the Armoury in New York in February they ran 8:59.37. Although the time is far slower than the 8:51.19 they did last year to win the event, that's still a good indoor time and with the expected cool conditions much more to their liking they could improve their time dramatically outdoors.

Manchester for the kill

After defeating Holmwood Technical twice, so far this season, Manchester High will be going for the 'kill' here as they look to remain undefeated in this event. They have the leading time of 8:51.34 which was set at the Gibson Relays. They have always won from the front and given the chance by Holmwood and the defending champions Eleanor Roosevelt they could again go all the way.

Victory here could come down to the final leg where it could be Natoya Goule of Manchester versus Wilkins of Holmwood. Wilkins should not beat Goule if she gets the baton too far behind. Goule ran a sub-2:06 for 800m at the Carifta Games and has the potential to go even faster if pushed.

A real drawback for the Jamaican teams, as they look to regain winning form at the Penn Relays, is the long lay-off since Boys' and Girls' Championships. The Penn Relays is usually held two weeks after Jamaica's high school championships and, with at least six weeks break, this could be bad for the Jamaican teams. The coaches who can get their teams to peak once again are the ones who will be successful.

On the other hand, it could also be a blessing in disguise. A gruelling Carifta Games came a week after the Boys' and Girls' Championships. The extended time before the Penn Relays would have given the athletes more time to rest. Those with niggling injuries would also have had added time to recover.