PHILADELPHIA, USA-It’s two down and one to go as Edwin Allen High won their seventh straight high school girls’ Championships of Americas (COA) 4x100m, smashing their own record in the process by running 43.18 seconds and retained the 4x800m title at the 126th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

The 4x400m comes later when the Michael Dyke-coached team is hoping to sweep the relays for the first time.

Jamaican teams finished in the first five positions in the 4x100m COA final.

The team of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall and Tia Clayton broke the 43.62 seconds they set in 2019, the last time the event was held, with Cole and the Claytons being part of that team.

Hydel High who were expected to challenge Edwin Allen had to settle for second place and the third fastest time ever 43.69 seconds, beating their 44.56 seconds set in 2017.

St Jago were third with 46.09 seconds, Holmwood Technical were fourth with 46.42 seconds and Immaculate Conception High were fifth with 46.47 seconds.

St Catherine High were eighth of the nine schools with 47.53 seconds.

Vere Technical were third in the International final in 48.31 seconds and Petersfield High eighth in 49.27 seconds.

In the 4x800m, the team of Rickesha Simms, Leanna Lewis, Rushana Dwyer and Jessica McLean won in 8:54.58 seconds, beating Cuthbert of North Carolina (9:04.67 seconds) as Holmwood Technical failed to finish the event as a runner fell and hit her hip in the rail that runs in the middle of the track.

-Paul A Reid