#Penns2022 | Dyke not worried about 4x800

Earlier in the season, Edwin Allen High School head coach Michael Dyke voiced the hope that his 2022 4x800m squad might challenge the Penn Relays record held by Vere Technical since 1991.

Having seen his quartet place second in its first round race in Philadelphia on Thursday, Dyke wasn't worried. He explained that the team was just getting accustomed to the cold weather at the 126th staging of the venerable relay carnival.

Edwin Allen led most of the way and clocked 9:13.89 minutes, with Union Catholic High School ahead at 9:13.08. Peyton Hollis anchored the Scotch Plains, New Jersey, team past Jessica McLean with a closing leg timed at 2:12.53. Shivering in the 8 degree Celsius chill, Dyke affirmed his faith in his unit.

"I'm still comfortable," he calmly said. "You know, it was very cold this morning, so we're just trying to find our footing. I'm not worried."

In February, Monique Stewart, Rickeisha Simms, Rushana Dwyer, and McLean clocked 8:48.57 to win the Western Relays. That run encouraged the coach that the Edwin Allen school record, 8:39.22, and the Penn benchmark of 8:37.71 might both be challenged. However, Stewart missed Edwin Allen's Gibson McCook Relays success and won't run in Philadelphia.

"I think the squad will remain, but they will be fine tomorrow. I'm not in any way concerned or worried," an assured Dyke said.

His confidence is well founded. Outgoing seniors Dwyer and McLean went one-two at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) in Class One and they have personal bests of 2:08.27 and 2:08.78, respectively, with Simms speeding 2:08.52 to win the gold medal in Class Two. Team captain Leanna Lewis, who ran in the Penn heats, anchored Edwin Allen to a win in the Champs medley.

Notably, Dwyer and McLean were in the 2019 Edwin Allen winning team.

Should Edwin Allen win for the seventh time when the final is contested at 2:55 p.m. (Jamaica time), the result will create a tie with Vere Technical. Holmwood is the all-time leader in Penn Relays in the event with 11 wins.

Union Catholic clocked 8:53.69 during the US high school indoor season, with Hollis spinning off a time of 2:11.89 seconds outdoors on her own.

With Carifta Under-20 800 gold medallist Jodyann Mitchell supplying a 2:14.5 second stint, Holmwood clocked 9:23.48 to reach the final as well.