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Boys begin rush for Penn Relays’ Championship of America titles
April 24, 2025
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania:
The Penn Relays will get under way today at the Franklin Field Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than 15,000 participants, including top Jamaican high schools.
High school boys will compete today ahead of their female counterparts, for only the second time ever.
Excellent weather is projected for the next three days, with a high of 79degF expected today -- good news for the Jamaicans.
As usual, it will be the high school teams that attract most of the attention, as Jamaican squads look to continue their dominance over their United States counterparts, with the boys in action first in one of the Championship of America events.
The 'Championship of America' races are the premier events at the Penn Relays, showcasing the top college and high school athletes in the United States, and other competing nationalities. These races are recognised as a significant indicator of national dominance in various track and field events.
On the track this morning, the preliminary round of the Championship of America 4x800m will get things under way.
Calabar High will be the first Jamaican team to compete, lining up in the opening heat at 8 a.m. Jamaica time. Edwin Allen, Kingston College (KC) and defending champions Jamaica College (JC) are also slated to compete in the event.
Newcomers Guy's Hill High School will be the first Jamaican team in the preliminary round of the Championships of America 4x100m relay, taking the track at 9:20 a.m., followed by Port Antonio High and Rhodes High at 10:05 a.m.
Record holders and favourites Calabar High will lead a host of Jamaican teams down to compete at 11:20 a.m. The Red Hills Road team, with a season-best 39.60 seconds, run at the Gibson McCook Relays in February, will feature a very strong quartet including Carifta Games Under-20 champion Jamal Stephenson and 110m hurdles record-breaker Shaquane Gordon.
Other Jamaican teams set to compete include St George's College, Edwin Allen, Clarendon College, Cornwall College, Greater Portmore, JC, KC, Munro, Petersfield, St Elizabeth Technical, St Mary High, Holmwood Technical and defending champions Excelsior High. The top nine schools will advance to tomorrow's finals.
Jamaican teams will close out first-day action on the track with the preliminary round of the Championship of America 4x400m relay, starting at 1:29 p.m., with Garvey Maceo High in the opening heat.
KC, aiming to make it four wins in a row, will take the track at 3:10 p.m., joined by Foga Road High and Titchfield High in the same heat.
An interesting heat will feature one of the pre-meet favourites Bullis High out of Maryland, running at 3:22 p.m. alongside Excelsior High and Cornwall College.
Other Jamaican high school teams set to contest the preliminary round of the 4x400m relay include St Jago High, St Elizabeth Technical, JC, William Knibb, Rhodes Hall, Petersfield, Vere Technical, Edwin Allen, Munro, St George's College, Lacovia High, and William Knibb.
