PHILADELPHIA, USA — Edwin Allen High and Holmwood Technical had a good day in the relays as each school qualified for three Championships of Americas finals on today’s second full day of the 122nd Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

On a bitterly cold day that started out under heavy clouds then started raining just after midday, the Jamaicans impressed and the hopes are for more glory today.

Edwin Allen and Holmwood are in the finals of the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m, while a number of other schools will also be in the battle for honours today.

There were some disappointments for St Jago, however, as they dropped the baton in the 4x100m and did not make the finals of the 4x400m.

Five schools led by Holmwood Technical, who had the fastest qualifying time yesterday, and two-time defending champions Edwin Allen are in the Championships of Americas 4x100m final today.

Holmwood Technical won their heat in 45.64 seconds; Edwin Allen were comfortable in 45.79 seconds; Excelsior High ran 46.55 seconds, St Catherine High were impressive with 47.08 seconds, and Green Island in 47.18 seconds which at the time, was the fastest of the day.

Manchester High are the lone Jamaican team in the Large Schools finals after running 48.02 seconds.

Also running yesterday were Camperdown High (8.34 seconds), Alpha Academy (48.69 seconds), St Andrew High (48.68 seconds), and St Andrew Technical High School (STAHTS) in 48.89 seconds.

Holmwood Technical were impressive in winning their 4x400m heat as were Edwin Allen High, but St Elizabeth Technical, favourites in some quarters to win their first Mile Relay title here, struggled badly in their heat and were third in 3 minutes 50.19 seconds to be the seventh fastest team through to the finals.

Defending champions Holmwood Technical and Edwin Allen High, who won the last of their five titles in 2012, are in the Championships of Americas 4x800m final after less than impressive performances in yesterday’s heats.

Edwin Allen looked the better of the two as they had the fifth fastest time of 9 minutes 12.65 seconds for third in their heat behind Shenendowa of New York with 9:11.03 minutes and Glass of Virginia with 9:12.60 minutes.

The team of Janiel Moore (2:20.01), Teresha Jacobs (2:18.07), Nadine Rose (2:17.59), Asshanni Robb (2:16.98) led for long periods but failed to hold on.

Holmwood Technical’s team of Britney Campbell (2:18.55), Delverna Broomfield (2:17.54), Casey-Ann May (2:21.28), Chrisanni May (2:17.78) were second to Penwood of Pennsylvania in their heat in 9:15.15 minutes, thanks mainly to strong legs from Broomfield, who got the baton sixth and handed over first, and Chrisanni May, who was third a long way back when she got the baton and made up a lot of ground.