Lampart, Bernard strike gold

FRANKLIN FIELD, Philadelphia;

THERE were two individual field event successes and two second-place finishes for Jamaican female athletes on yesterday's opening day of the 130th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Marla Kay Lampart of Clarendon College and Zavien Bernard of Hydel captured the high school girls Championship of America shot put and triple jump events, respectively, both producing big marks on their sixth and final attempts.

Lampart, who has been troubled with a shoulder injury all season, bounced back to good form with a heave of 14.41 metres to capture the shot put title. Sage Cruickshank of Convent of Mercy, Alpha, ended seventh in the event with a mark of 12.61m.

Bernard produced a wind-aided 12.76m (+3.1mps) to win the triple jump event. Mikayla Longmore of Holmwood Technical was fifth with 12.31m.

Jamelia Young of Clarendon College and Zoelle Jamel of Immaculate Conception finished second in their respective events. Young threw 49.07m in the high school girls discus, with Dionjah Shaw of Edwin Allen finishing third with 48.87m. Brandane Malcolm of Hydel (45.87m) and Jada Francis of Immaculate (42.47m) finished fourth and eighth, respectively, in the event.

Jamel, who participated in the javelin, threw 48.84 for silver.

Ava Flicker of Perklomen Valley High School in Pennsylvania, won with 49.51m.

FASTEST QUALIFIERS

Meanwhile, Edwin Allen, the defending champions in the 4x100m Championship of America event, are the fastest qualifiers ahead of today's final after clocking 45.63 seconds to win their heat. They will run out of lane six in the 1:15 p.m. (Jamaica time) final.

They will be joined by three other Jamaican teams. St Jago High were the fourth fastest qualifiers after winning their heat in 45.73, Excelsior High were seventh fastest in 46.03, while Mount Alvernia High were eighth fastest in 46.35. St Jago will run out of lane nine, while Mt Alvernia will come out of lane one and Excelsior, lane three.

Bullis High and Pennsauken High out of New Jersey were the top United States qualifiers. Both clocked 45.68.

In the opening event yesterday, the 4x800m, four Jamaican teams, led by second-fastest qualifiers Sydney Pagon High, have booked their spots in today's final set for 5:25 p.m. Sydney Pagon won their heat in 9:01.33, ahead of Edwin Allen (9:02.66), the third-fastest qualifiers, while Alphansus Davis won their heat in 9:08.30 to be the sixth-fastest qualifiers. Holmwood are also through after finishing third in their heat in 9:14.80 to be the ninth-fastest qualifiers.

The fastest qualifiers were William Penn High out of Pennsylvania, who won their heat in a smart 8:56.14. Defending champions, Florida-based IMG Academy, won their heat in 9:05.28 to head into the final as the fourth-fastest qualifiers.

Edwin Allen booked their spot in a third final after winning their 4x400m heat in 3:39.56 to be the second-fastest qualifiers for today's final, which gets under way at 4:55 p.m. Defending champions Hydel High will be aiming to make it five wins in a row after clocking 3:39.55 to emerge as the fastest qualifiers. Other Jamaican teams in the final are Holmwood (3:39.82) and Alphansus Davis (3:44.81).

- Raymond Graham