PHILADELPHIA, USA — Edwin Allen High and Hydel High are expected to start the defence of relay titles won last year as the 130th staging of the Penn Relays Carnival gets underway this morning at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, in what is predicted to be cool conditions.

More than 50 teams from Jamaica, including 45 high schools and five colleges, are expected to participate in the oldest and most prestigious annual track and field meet in the United States.

Over the next three days, ending on Saturday afternoon, Jamaican high schools will defend four Championships of Americas titles, two each for the girls and boys as well as challenge for several field event titles.

The girls will start competition today where they will compete in the qualification for the 4x100m relays and 4x800m for the finals set for Friday’s second day when the heats and the finals of the 4x400m relays will also be run.

Twenty-four teams, led by defending champions Edwin Allen, are down to take part in the 4x100m, which will see the top nine teams advancing to the final, with the next nine teams not from the USA qualifying for the ‘International’ final.

Hydel High, who were second in the 4x100m Championships of Americas final last year, are also listed as well as Manchester High, Mt Alvernia High, St Jago High, The Queens School, Vere Technical, William Knibb Memorial, Alpha Academy, Excelsior High, Holmwood Technical, and Immaculate Conception.

Former champions, Edwin Allen High, Hydel, and Holmwood Technical are among the six Jamaican schools down for the 4x800m, including Alphansus Davis, who were the highest placed Jamaican team in second place last year.

Merl Grove High’s Abigail Bennett, who was fourth last year and won the Class 1 discus throw at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships this year and Clarendon College’s Jamilia Young, who was third last year and won the Champs Class 2 gold, are among the contenders in the high school girls’ discus throw championships.

Edwin Allen’s Dionjah Shaw is ranked number two going into the event, while Jada Francis and Jamie Lee Tulloch of Immaculate Conception, Brandane Malcolm of Hydel High, and Tanique Dunn of Marymount High will also line up.

Clarendon College’s Marla Kay Lampart, who finished 11th last year, is the favourite in the High School Girls shot put championships where she will be joined by Saje Cruickshank of Alpha Academy and Gabriel Merchant of Vere Technical.

Repeat Champs gold medallist Zoelle Jamel of Immaculate Conception and Ramona Freemantle of Vere Technical, who competed in the discus throw last year, will contest the javelin throw, while Alpha Academy’s Rajana Price will be the only Jamaican in the long jump.

Hydel High’s Zavien Bernard is ranked third going into the triple jump where she will be joined by Holmwood Technical’s Mikayla Longmore, who was fifth last year, and Vere Technical’s Martina Moxam.

Two Jamaicans are down to contest the high school girls’ high jump, Malia Housen of Mt Alvernia High and St Mary High’s Sackoya Palmer, who will hope to improve on her 12th place from last year.

Clarendon College’s Marla Kay Lampart is the favourite in the High School Girls shot put championship. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)