PHILADELPHIA, USA — After five Championships of Americas relay titles between 2009 and last year, Edwin Allen High School coach Michael Dyke thinks his charges can win the treble this season, which are the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m, when the 119th Penn Relays carnival gets under way this morning at Franklin Field here, under what should be sunny but cold conditions.

Weather forecasts are calling for 60 degrees Fahrenheit all day today as the teams seek to gain places in relays finals set for tomorrow afternoon, while also attempting to win wrist watches in several field events.

The heats in the college women’s 4x100m and 4x400m will also be run today and UTech and GC Foster Sports College are down to take part.

Edwin Allen will defend their titles in the 4x400m and 4x800m and will seek to break Long Beach Poly’s two-year hold on the 4x100m, but at least 12 other Jamaican schools will have ambitions of their own.

Not least of these are former Penn Relay treble winners Holmwood Technical, who have failed to add to their numerous titles in the last two years after a dominant run.

Holmwood Technical engineered a dramatic upset of Edwin Allen at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Champs this year and their confidence will be sky high as long-time coach Maurice Wilson bids farewell after unprecedented success both locally and at the Penn Relays.

While overseeing a practice session in Philadelphia yesterday, Dyke told the Jamaica Observer they were confident of yet another good display.

“We have a good chance to win all three relays this year as we have prepared well,” Dyke said, but when pressed he offered that his best chance was in the 4x800m where the team has run 8:54.68 minutes this year and will be seeking a third straight win and sixth overall.

Marleena Eubanks, Atara Segree, Asshanni Robb and Sanikee Gardner should be the quartet that runs the finals, but Dyke also has Derica Pitters who could feature as well.

Holmwood Technical, led by Chris-Ann Gordon, has run 9:03.31 and will be joined by St Jago High as the Jamaican teams taking part here.

Thirteen Jamaican teams, led again by Edwin Allen with a season best 44.85 seconds, will be gunning to reclaim the 4x100m title from the California school that has run just 45.96 seconds slower than three other Jamaican schools — Holmwood Technical (45.09 seconds), Vere Technical (45.36) and St Jago (45.56 seconds).

Also taking part in the sprint relays will be Alpha Academy, Manchester High, St Elizabeth Technical, St Andrew Technical, St Hugh’s, Garvey Maceo High, Hydel High, Tacius Golding and The Queen’s School.

Vere Technical dominated the 4x400m, setting records at both Gibson Relays and ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Champs, running 3:30.51 at the latter, but will be without the outstanding Shericka Jackson which gives the edge to Edwin Allen here.

STETHS, Queen’s, Vere Technical, St Andrew Technical, Alpha Academy, Holmwood Technical, St Jago, St Hughs, St Andrew High, and Tacius Golding will also take part.

Jamaican women will start favourites to win several individual events on today’s opening day.

Defending champion in the triple jump Shardia Lawrence of Vere Technical, Edwin Allen’s Tara-Sue Barnett in the discus throw, Manchester High’s Isheka Binns in the shot put, as well as UTech’s Janieve Russell in the College women’s 400m hurdles.