Calabar ready for special run in 4x100m at Penns

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania

EIGHT YEARS ago a Calabar High 4x100 metres quartet -- Tyreke Wilson, Christopher Taylor, Michael Stephens and Dejour Russell -- had the large Saturday afternoon crowd at Franklin Field in a frenzy at the Penn Relays. They delivered a stunning 39.00 seconds to capture the Championship of America title in record time.

Their winning time on that cold Saturday afternoon could have been even faster if Russell hadn't significantly slowed down close to the finish line, as a sub-39-second clocking was definitely on the cards.

Fast forward to 2025, and after last winning the title in 2018, the Red Hills Road-based school is on track for another spectacular performance. With eight titles -- currently tied for second with St Jago High -- a win here would move them to the top, alongside Camperdown High, Boys and Girls High from New York, and Mercersburg Academy out of Philadelphia.

Calabar enter the meet as the fastest team, following their 39.69 clocking at the Gibson McCook Relays. Jamaica College (39.88) and Excelsior High (39.98) also dipped under the 40-second barrier, finishing second and third, respectively.

Since then, Kingston College has gone sub-40 with 39.78 at Champs, where they were promoted to first after the disqualification of Calabar. KC also won at the Grand Slam meet, clocking 39.95, ahead of Excelsior (39.98) and a weakened Calabar team, third in 40.32.

The preliminary round of the Penn Relays will take place on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., with the final set for Friday due to the rotational high school schedule that began two years ago.

Calabar's sprinters, led by Jamal Stephenson, have been in exceptional form. Although he was disqualified for a false start in Class One at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, Stephenson bounced back at the Grand Slam meet with an impressive win in the 100m.

He elevated his status further at last weekend's Carifta Games, producing a lifetime best of 10.24 to win the under-20 100m. At the same meet, teammate Shaquane Gordon broke the under-20 110m hurdles record with a personal best of 13.19 while Junior Gallimore placed third in the under-20 Boys' 200m with 21.01 seconds.

Both Gordon and Stephenson were members of the Jamaican team that struck gold in the under-20 4x100m -- proof that they are in incredible form heading into the Penn Relays.

With Khamani Gordon set to join his teammates in the line-up for Penns, they are undoubtedly the overwhelming favourites to win.

Come Friday at 12:50 p.m. (Jamaica time) and with excellent weather expected, history could be in the making -- as they may surpass the time set by another legendary Calabar quartet and cement their names in the record books.