Jamaican schools dominate final day of Penn Ralays
PHILADELPHIA, United States — Jamaica’s high school boys jumpers swept all three events on yesterday’s final day of the 121st Penn Relays Carnival here at a sun-bathed Franklin Field.
After two days of cold and overcast conditions, it was a welcome relief for the 48,920 spectators who packed into the ancient stadium for a three-day total of 110,587 — the eighth best three-day total in the meet’s history.
Odaine Lewis won Cornwall College’s first ever-event at the meet when he took the triple jump. Jamaica College’s Clayton Brown, who won the triple jump last year, took the high jump this time around, while Calabar High’s Jullanie Walker won the long jump.
It was the first time since 2013 that Jamaican jumpers won all three events here after Kingston College’s Clive Pullen claimed the triple jump event, Sadiki Eddie of Kingston College won the long jump and Wolmer’s Boys’ Christoff Bryan was first in the high jump.
Yesterday, Walker led a Jamaican sweep of the top three in the long jump, leaping to a wind-aided (2.8m/s) 7.45 metres on his second attempt, to tie for the ninth best ever at the meet. He passed on all his attempts in the final round.
Walker told reporters afterwards that he was proud of his feat.
“I feel extremely proud of myself. My personal best is 7.50 so coming out here to jump 7.45 it’s a great feeling,” he said.
“Going into my last jump what was in my mind was to just go out there and win because I was trying to conserve energy in a way because I had the 4x100m to run, so my last jump was just execution.”
His teammate Travis Riley was second with 7.34m (1.3m/s) and Cornwall College’s Alrick Ottey came third with 7.16m (1.0m/s), while fouling his last three jumps.
Lewis’ winning jump came on his final attempt, passing Jamaica College’s Obrien Wasome (15.28m) for his first victory over the ISSA Boys Champs winner this season.
Jamaican jumpers filled the first five slots as Lewis had just two jumps over 15.00m after struggling early. On his third attempt, a long jumper from the adjoining pit walked across his path. His protest was upheld and he was allowed to jump again.
Campion’s Jordan Scott was third with 15.19m, followed by Javier Lowe of Calabar (15.13m) and Kingston College’s Errol Ennis (14.60m).
Having conquered the triple jump last year, Brown made a successful switch to the high jump, clearing 2.09 metres to beat St Jago High’s Lushane Wilson (2.06m). Another St Jago jumper, Douglas Romario, was sixth with 2.03m.
