Kingston College (KC) and Edwin Allen High were dominant at the 49th staging of the Gibson McCook Relays, both schools showing great depth and all-around strength to underline why they are favourites for the respective ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships to be staged March 24-28.

The girls from Edwin Allen won five of the eight relays on offer. The Michael Dyke-coached unit won three of the 4x100s — the Class One, Class Three and Class Four along with the 4×200 and 4×400 Opens.

Trinidad and Tobago star Alexxi Henry was responsible for two, propelling Edwin Allen victory in the Class One 4×100 in 44.43 and the 4×200 in 1:34.88 and were miles clear of second-placed Immaculate Conception (1:37.07).

Edwin Allen also won the Class Three in 46.38 and Class Four in 46.38, while St Jago High stopped the Clarendon-based school’s domination briefly, winning the Class Two in 45.44 with Edwin second in 46.08.

A composed and smart run by Horecia Love on anchor led Edwin Allen to glory in the 4×400 Open, holding off the talented Abrina Wright of Holmwood Technical who ran past her early on the final leg. Edwin won in 3:37.48 with Holmwood second in 3:38.09.

Holmwood won the Sprint Medley, clocking 3:59.50 ahead of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in 4:03.75, Edwin Allen was third in 4:05.88 minutes.

KC stole the show in the boys’ section, winning four races, sweeping three of the 4×200 relays including a record run in Class One as the quartet of Alva Jacson, Timothy Purrier, Kyle Bodden, and Nyron Wade stopped the clock at 1:23.30, erasing the previous record of 1:24.67. William Knibb was second in 1:24.73. Excelsior without Riquelme Reid was third in 1:24.81.

Before the celebrating KC fans settled down, their Class Two was in smashing form, winning in 1:25.41 with Calabar second in 1:26.73. Wolmer’s Boys’ were third, some distance back in 1:27.53.

But the boys from Heroes’ Circle continued their domination of Class Three as Daejuan Hinds, Joshua McWilliams, Kaden Levermore, and Ajani Lumbly won in 1:30.26 with KC second in 1:31.78. JC were way back in third with 1:34.93.

KC returned and easily won with Class Four with Kenardo Wedderburn, Rajeev Gunnis, Jayden Bailey, and Kellan Harris clocking 1:35.71, almost six seconds ahead of second-placed JC in 1:41.31.

KC won their fourth relay, capturing the 4×800 in 7:38.95 from a fine anchor leg from Kenya’s Nashahon Ruto. Edwin Allen with Joel Morgan closed well for second in 7:41.06. Cavel Nooks who got the baton eight metres ahead for JC faded into third with 7:43.75.

But JC would return and close the show in style, winning the 4×400 in a smart 3:08.20. Rojay Black started, but it was Trinidadian Makaelan Woods who destroyed the field on the second leg and sent JC on their way, making it easy for Guyanese Dejaun Grant and Omary Robinson. Excelsior was second in 3:09.52 with KC third in 3:10.21

St Jago’s Ryan Achau of Kenya broke the 1,500m Open record, lowering it from 3:52.06 to a personal best 3:49.73 ahead of Ghana’s Evans Tetteh of JC in a personal best 3:59.00. The best-placed Jamaican was Amiel Thomas of GC Foster with 3:59.70. KC’s Class Three star Julius Itubo was fifth in 4:03.75 for a new personal best.