PHILADELPHIA, United States — Jamaica College led the Jamaican high school boys’ teams by qualifying for the Championship of America finals in both the 4x800m and 4x100m on Friday’s second day of the 126th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Jamaica College were the only Jamaican team in the 4x800m, while eight of the nine teams into the 4x100m finals are from Jamaica, with the qualifying for the 4x400m relays set for this morning at 9:00 am (8:00 am Jamaica time).

Meanwhile, Jamaica College’s J’voughnn Blake did not show up for the high school boys Mile Run that he was down to contest.

Yesterday, defending champions Calabar High and Camperdown High, who led all qualifiers with 40.96 seconds, were among the eight teams that booked spots in the COA 4x100m final set for 12:55pm local time.

Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Champs Class One winners Jamaica College (41.20 seconds), St Jago (41.06), St Elizabeth Technical (41.48), St Catherine (41.78), Excelsior High (41.84) and Herbert Morrison Technical (41.90), will also line up for the event that has been won by a Jamaican school for the last 15 stagings, dating back to 2005 when Holmwood Technical won.

Calvert Hall College of Maryland are the only non-Jamaican team in the final as Kingston College had withdrawn from the event earlier on in the day.

Meanwhile, Wolmer’s Boys’, who won their heat in 42.32, are to run in the International final.

Favourites Jamaica College qualified for the 4x800m after winning their heat in 7:53.41 minutes in cool conditions early on Friday’s second day of competition.

Three of the four Jamaican teams that were entered, took part in the event, but defending champions Calabar High, who were sixth in their heat in 8:05.03 minutes, and Kingston College, who were third in the race in 8:05.43, failed to progress.

St Jago High did not show up for their race.

Even without J’voughnn Blake, Jamaica College were still able to run the fastest time of the day with the team of Khandale Frue, Kemario Bygrave, Omarion Davis and Handal Roban.

Kingston College’s team of Giovouni Henry, Ainsley Campbell, Jaquan Coke and Gianna Henry led their race for long periods, but ended third behind Westfield of New Jersey (7:59.45) and Grafton of Virginia (7:59.85), both of whom qualified for the final.

Meanwhile, 12 Jamaican schools are down to contest the 4x400m today — St Elizabeth Technical, Jamaica College, Tacius Golding, Calabar High, Edwin Allen, Port Antonio High, Excelsior High, St Jago, Rhodes Hall, Kingston College, Petersfield High and Herbert Morrison.

The teams with the nine fastest times will advance to the final, set for later in the evening.