Edwin, Hydel set for big battle in 4x100m at Penns

A YEAR ago at the Penn Relays, the girls’ teams from Edwin Allen High and Hydel High had the Franklin Field crowd in a frenzy during a spectacular clash in the high school Championships of America 4x100 metres.

The Edwin Allen quartet, which included twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton and Serena Cole, dug deep to stave off the challenge of a strong Hydel team, which included Brianna Lyston, Alana Reid, and Kerrica Hill to win in a record 43.18 seconds. Hydel took second in 43.69.

It was Edwin Allen’s third sub-44 seconds clocking at Penns while it was first time for Hydel. Hydel’s time was the third fastest ever in the event, behind Edwin Allen record run in 2022 and their 43.62 to win in 2019.

Fast-forward one year, and another pulsating clash between both teams is expected at this year’s 127th staging of the relays from April 27-29 in Pennsylvania. For this year’s clash, the Clayton twins are out for Edwin Allen and Lyston and Hill have also left Hydel. Cole of Edwin Allen and Hydel’s Reid will lead the way this year.

With nine wins in the event, including seven in a row since their 2014 success, the defending champions will be under severe pressure to keep their unbeaten run as they will face a confident Hydel team, which will be gunning for its first success in the event. The Corey Bennett-coached team has inflicted two severe blows so far on their rivals this season after winning at Central Championships and the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) to stop the Michael Dyke-coached team’s winning streak.

Hydel have beaten Edwin Allen three times this season in the Class One 4x100m - at Central Championships, Gibson McCook Relays, and at Champs. Edwin Allen were second on all three occasions. The two are the only teams to have gone sub-45 seconds so far this season, with their last outing at Champs seeing Hydel winning in 44.33 over Edwin Allen, who took second in 44.77 without their ace runner Cole, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

That close finish without Cole must have given the Edwin Allen coaching staff some encouragement, and with her expected to be back in the line-up for Penns, this is good news for the defending champions. With the vastly improved Kacian Powell and Tonianne Forbes along with top Class Three athlete Theianna Lee Terrelonge expected to make up the team, Hydel could fall to Edwin Allen for the first time this season.

With Reid running some magnificent relay legs for her team all season along with a brilliant leg at the recent Carifta Games in the Bahamas to pilot Jamaica to an impressive win in the under-20 4100m, the Class One sprint champion could make the difference here. Hydel are also expected to insert top Class Two sprinter Shemonique Hazle in their line-up to strengthen their team.

With the girls set to showcase their talent to a Saturday crowd for the first time ever at the relay carnival, the large crowd on the final day, who did not get the chance to witness that big clash a year ago, should see an intense battle.