Four the hard way in boys’ 4x400m at Penns

A YEAR ago, six Jamaican boys’ teams, led by winners Kingston College (KC), finished in the top seven of the Championships of America High School 4x400 metres final at the Penn Relays (Penns).

KC won the event in three minutes 09.52 seconds ahead of Bullis High out of Maryland as St Jago High, Excelsior High, Edwin Allen High, Jamaica College (JC), and St Elizabeth Technical occupied the next five placings.

With the new schedule at the meet, the final will be contested on Friday for the first time, and the fans should witness a big battle among defending champions KC, JC, St Elizabeth Technical, and Edwin Allen.

The leading four featured in an exciting final at the 2023 ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) where JC prevailed in three minutes 09.31 seconds to be the fastest team going into the Penn Relays. It was very close before JC edged away in the end from Edwin Allen 3:10.09 and KC 3:11.46.

JC won the event without Malique Smith-Band, their top quarter-miler this season, and the Neil Harrison-coached team, which is expected to include him in their Penn Relays team is expected to go faster and could go all the way and capture their fifth title.

Edwin Allen have a strong team, and after posting a school record for their second-place finish at Champs, could capture their first title here as their team will now include the outstanding Brian Levell. Levell has been out of competition for most of the season due to a hamstring injury but is set to join up with Champs Class One winner Delano Kennedy and the vastly improved Tyrece Hyman. They could upset the favourites.

Champs

Gibson McCook Relays winners St Elizabeth Technical will welcome the return of Shamer Blake, who missed Champs because of injury but will return to join up with Carifta Games Under-20 400 metres winner Jasuane Dennis, who upset Kennedy in the final, and Enrique Webster. They could steal the show.

Defending champions KC will not go down without a fight. The team should include the likes of Emmanuel Rwotomiya and Amal Glasgow, who were members of their winning quartet last year.