PHILADELPHIA, United States – Former champions Edwin Allen High, Holmwood Technical, and Alphansus Davis High have secured spots in the High School Girls Championships of Americas 4x800m finals, set to take place on the second day of the 128th staging of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Edwin Allen High, runners-up last year, clinched victory in their heat on Thursday’s opening day, clocking 9:04.67 seconds. The team, comprising Rickeisha Simms, Monique Stewart, Horecia Love, and Tonian Allen, displayed impressive form.

Alphansus Davis High finished third in their heat with a time of 9:06.25 seconds, while Holmwood Technical claimed second place in their heat, clocking 9:18.65 seconds behind New York’s Guilderland High, who finished in 9:18.25 seconds.

Defending champions Union Catholic of New Jersey posted the fastest qualifying time of 9:02.27 seconds, topping the heat that featured Alphansus Davis High. Rumson-Fair Haven, another New Jersey school, secured second place with a time of 9:04.48 seconds.

The eagerly anticipated final is scheduled for Friday at 5:15 pm Jamaican time.

-Paul A Reid