Edwin Allen poised to retain girls’ 4x100m at Penns

Since winning their first title in 2014, Edwin Allen High School girls have captured nine titles in a row in the Championship of America 4x100m relay at the Penn Relays.

The Frankfield, Clarendon-based school are also the record holders with 43.18 seconds done in 2022 with a team that included the Clayton twins, Tia and Tina.

Also, they remain the only high school female team to have gone sub-44 seconds in the event, achieving the feat three times, with 43.62 in 2019 and 43.96 in 2017 being the other occasions.

When they take the track at the three-day carnival at Franklin Field, Pennsylvania, between April 23-25, Edwin Allen will go into this year's meet as overwhelming favourites to win title number 12, based on performances so far this season.

They are the fastest qualifiers, with a 44.43 seconds clocking at the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, a time they also produced in winning at the Gibson McCook Relays.

Edwin Allen have retained three members of last year's successful team in Kereille Etienne, Reneica Edwards and Alexxe Henry, and with the addition of intermediate hurdler Kelly Ann Carr this season, they have looked unstoppable, and are expected to go even faster.

JAMAICA DOMINANCE

Led by Vere Technical with 15 titles and Edwin Allen with 11, Jamaican teams have owned this event.

While Edwin Allen will start as favourites, they must be wary of Hydel and a youthful St Jago team, both past winners of the event.

Hydel High, who won in 2024 and were second last year in 44.65 seconds, have retained three members from that team in Shemonique Hazle, Nastassia Fletcher and Sashana Johnson. They recorded a season best 45.54 seconds to finish third in Class One at the Gibson McCook Relays, and could be saving their best for this occasion.

Four-time winners St Jago High are the second fastest team this season. And their unbeaten Class Two unit - featuring Shannia and Adora Campbell and Malayia Duncan - clocked 44.81 seconds when winning at Champs. If they include Class One athlete Bryanna Davidson in their quartet, they could be a serious contender.

Last year's fifth-place finishers, Wolmer's Girls, with three members back in Natrice East, Ackelia Bell and Tiana Marshall, will be hoping for an upset, as well as the solid Immaculate Conception High team that ran 45.54 this season.

The United States' best challenge should come from Bullis High, who were third last year in 44.99 seconds.

Despite the credentials of their rivals, all indications point to another Edwin Allen victory, as the Michael Dyke-coached team looks unstoppable and should add another title to their tally, making it an even dozen.