Jamaica set for field events boon at Penn Relays

WHILE MANY fans at this week’s Penn Relays in Philadelphia, which starts on Thursday, will be focused on relays, Jamaicans should also pay attention to the field where athletes hailing from the island should enjoy good results.

Calabar High School’s Kobe Lawrence should lead the way when he contests the high school shot put event on Thursday.

Lawrence, who won silver in the event at last year’s World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, has been unbeaten in the event this season with his latest success coming at the Carifta Games, where he won with a heave of 18.55 metres.

After his second-place finish a year ago at Penns, he could go all the way this time around. Shaquan Dunn of St Jago, who was second at the Carifta Games with a 17.65-metre put, should also do well.

In the discus, Jamaica College’s Racquil Broderick could be bettering last year’s second-place finish. Last time out, Broderick finished behind former Edwin Allen High School thrower, Trevor Gunzell. Broderick’s teammate, Zachary Campbell and Calabar’s Delano Lawrence will accompany Broderick in the event.

Another Jamaica College athlete, Uroy Ryan, who was second last year in the long jump, could also go one better this year, while teammates Trevor Hamer and Euan Young will be hoping for success in the triple jump.

Cedricka Williams of Holmwood Technical High School, the defending champion in the girls’ discus, will be taking aim at a repeat and in the process avenge her Carifta Games defeat to St Jago’s Abigail Martin. Martin will also be there and will contest the event along with Camperdown High School’s Brittanie Johnson.

BETTER PERFORMANCE

Brittanie’s twin sister, Brittania, broke the Carifta Games under-20 shot put record recently. Brittania was fourth at Penns last year but will be hoping for a better performance this time around.

It has been an outstanding season, so far, in both the long and triple jump for St Jago’s Jade Ann Dawkins.

After dominating both events at the Carifta Games, she will contest the triple jump at Penns. She has gone past the 13-metre mark thrice this season and should be a shoo-in to go all the way in the event.

Mount Alvernia High School’s, Aaliah Foster, despite playing second fiddle so far this season to Dawkins in the long jump, should take care of business in the event with the absence of her rival.

In what could be a clean sweep of titles among the girls in the field at Penns, Toriann Caven of Vere Technical, the Carifta Games under-20 high jump champion, is expected to seal the deal here.