Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Peta-Gaye Reid of St Elizabeth Technical poses with her watch after her high jump victory on yesterday's opening day. - Photo by Anthony Foster

PHILADELPHIA:

ST ELIZABETH Technical High's Peta-Gaye Reid was the island's only winner on yesterday's opening day of the Penn Relays, as Jamaican high school teams enjoyed a good outing at the famous event.

Reid captured the girls' high jump title with a leap of 1.76 metres. A first-timer at Penn Relays, she was delighted with her performance.

"I am feeling very happy, especially since it's my first time at the Penn Relays," Reid said.

While Jamaican schools dominated yesterday's heats of the relays, the real tests await them this afternoon, especially in the girls' 4x400m where defending champions Eleanor Roosevelt of Maryland led the finalists with 3:38.40 seconds.

Spoil the party

However, Holmwood, with Bobbie-Gaye Wilkins, who ran 51.9 on the anchor leg - the joint second best spilt in Penn Relays history - along with Edwin Allen (3:39.86), Vere (3:40.37) and Manchester (3:40.72) could spoil Roosevelt's party. There is also Long Beach Polly of California, who did 3:39.72, the third fastest time.

In the High School girls' 4x100m, defending champions Edwin Allen, with Naffene Briscoe, Kaycea Jones, Gayon Evans and Shawna Anderson, looked hot in the heats after posting the day's fastest time - 45.28 seconds.

St Jago's quartet of Yoneice Martin, Melisa Williams, Shantoya Lee and Candice Walker stopped the clock at 46.33 for the day's second fastest time, while Holmwood, who fumbled on the first change, recovered to win heat nine in 47.12 and are also in this afternoon's Championship of America final.

The Jamaican schools, which dominated Championship of America finalists, will be completed by Vere with Peta-Gaye Beckford, Jura Levy, Deandre Whitehorne and Kayon Robinson (46.26) and Alpha (47.13).

In the Large Schools final, St Andrew High (47.40) will be the only Jamaica team while St Eliza-beth Technical (47.24), Herbert Morrison (47.49) and Manchester High (47.97) are down for the Small Schools final.

Third fastest time

In the college women's 4x100m, local teams G.C. Foster College, with Kaydene Mason, Anastasia Leroy, Rose-Marie Whyte and Schillonie Calvert, clocked 44.00 for the third fastest time ahead of UTech with Nyoka Cole, Stephanie McPherson, Anneisha McLaughlin and Shelly-Ann Fraser (44.29).

National representative Simone Facey, and her Texas A&M team, led the field with 43.40 seconds.

In the 4x800m, Natoya Goule split 2:11.0 on her anchor leg to put Manchester in today's final with the fastest time (9:01.61) ahead of Holmwood (9:05.28), for whom Salcia Slack recorded the seventh fastest split, and Edwin Allen (9:07.44).

In the day's first final, contested by Jamaica, Shana-Gaye Tracey finished 13th overall in the High School girls' 400m hurdles, this after taking heat one in 1:04.45. Ryann Krais Methacton of Norristown won the event in 59.62 seconds.