NINE athletes will represent Jamaica in the Masters competition at the 118th Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania in Franklin Field, Philadelphia.

For the first time, Jamaican masters (athletes 35 years and older) will take part in the relays, having taken part in individual races over the years.

They will compete in both men’s 40 and older and men’s 50 and older, in both the 4×100 and 4x400m relays which will run today and tomorrow.

In the former category, Leeroy Gray, Andrew Shirley, Danield England and reigning World Masters 400m hurdles champion Winston Chambers will feature in both 4×100 and 4x400m.

For the other, Maynard McIntosh, Karl Smith, Rudolph Briscoe and Clifton Quarrie will compete in both relays.

Smith was a finalist and Briscoe and McIntosh semi-finalists at last year’s World Masters Championships in Sacramento, California in the United States.

Relays apart, Cleston Morgan will compete in the men’s 60 and older 100m, hoping to better his third-place finish from last year.

England, Shirley, and McIntosh are also down for the 100m in the respective races.

President of the Jamaica Masters Athletics Association (JMAA), Leo McEwan, said he was “extremely pleased” that Jamaica’s masters would be on show at the prestigious relay carnival.

“This kind of exposure can only make the athletes better and help raise the profile of the JMAA. It’s a win-win situation,” he added.

The masters are using the Penn Relays as preparation for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Masters Championships in Canada in August.