Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

PENNSYLVANIA:

Calabar High, the local champions, wrote their names in the record books in the 4x100 metres at the Penn Relays yesterday.

The quartet of Earl Lee, Ramone McKenzie, Ricardo Powell and Oshane Bailey clocked 39.91 seconds to erase St Jago High's record of 39.96 set in 2007.

Calabar, however, had to share the spotlight with St Jago who won the 4x400 metres and University of Technology's women's 4x400 metres who also scored Championships of America victories on the final day of the prestigious meet.

The Red Hills Road-based Calabar, pushed by an excellent third leg from Powell, held off a determined Wolmer's Boys team who were second in 40.44. The next four positions were all filled by Jamaican teams with Munro third in 41.13, followed by Herbert Morrison (41.20), William Knibb (41.22) and Kingston College (41.83). St George's College were disqualified.

Elated

McKenzie, who did not compete last year, was very elated with his team's victory.

"I am very happy for my first Championship watch. We won because of a good all-round performance," he said.

There were anxious moments for the St Jago High coaching staff as they had to wait some 10 minutes before being confirmed as the winners of the 4x400m. With his team in the lead, Nickel Ashmeade stepped over the rail on the anchor leg and meet officials met to look into the matter.

In the end, they did not trouble the winners as the quartet of Andre Walsh, Adolphus Nevers, Marvin Green and Ashmeade made it two in a row clocking 3:12.55 to win ahead of Munro College who were later disqualified. Calabar, who crossed the line third, were awarded second in 3:14.25. Rancho Verde of California were third, in 3:14.78. Vere Technical and Wolmer's Boys finished fourth and fifth in 3:16.38 and 3:17.43, respectively.

Relieved

St Jago's coach Danny Hawthorne was relieved that his team was allowed to keep the race.

"This is like redemption for us, after we dropped the baton in the 4x100 metres heats. I was also very nervous having to wait so long for the official results but I would like to thank God, the coaching staff and the principal who made it possible for us to come and retain our title," he said.

The quartet of Christine Day, Aneisha McLaughlin, Stephanie McPherson and Kaliese Spencer spoilt a good day for Texas A&M who were dominating all the relays up to that point. Led by a brilliant second leg from McLaughlin, UTech sped to an excellent 3:30.61 to take the women's 4x400m. Texas Christian University (3:33.63) and Louisiana State University, 3:33.96, ended second and third, respectively, with Texas A&M placing fifth in 3:35.57.

There was no luck for Jamaican high schools in the other relay, finals. In the boys' 4x800m Albemarie out of Virginia proved their pre-meet hype correct as they registered the fastest time ever when they broke St Jago's 19-year-old mark of 7:35.99 with a astonishing run of 7:30.67. Second-place Morris Hill out of New Jersey were also inside the old mark as they clocked 7:31.60 for second. Jamaica College (7:37.73) were fourth, and Calabar (7:39.90) fifth, while Bellefield ended sixth in 7:40.71.