By Anthony Foster in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coverage brought to you by WIHCON and Caribbean Airlnes
Fireworks are expected in the Championships of America High School Girls 4×400 metres final, as Jamaica’s top two quarter-milers will clash again, but this time they will have some of the best from the United States of America to contend with here at 2016 Penn Relays Franklin Field.
Holmwood, anchored by Ashley Williams (55.14) and second leg runner Nicole Foster (55.08), easily topped their heat in 3:46.58 ahead of Hydel with Abigail Brooks (first leg) and Semoy Hemmings (fourth leg) 3:53.88.
St. Jago with Natalliah Whyte on the second leg finished third in 3:57.91 while Excelsior ended fourth in 3:59.18.
Junelle Bromfield was on anchor for St. Elizabeth Technical but did not make up much ground with her 55.67 split, as her team crossed the line in third – the qualifying time 3:50.19.
Bromfield 51.74 personal best and Williams 52.87 have had some interested battles this season, but the former is so far, the better.
At GC Foster Classic, part of the Digicel Grand Prix, Holmwood used Chrissann May on anchor, but Bromfield made up some 20 metres to take her team to victory. Holwmood switched Williams to anchor at Gibson McCook Relays and again led, but Bromfield, who went out hard and took over the lead on the backstretch, lost out in the final 80 metres.
Champs, however, was different as Bromfield led on the final exchange, leaving Williams no chance on anchor for Holmwood. Both teams, along with Edwin Allen, the other Jamaican qualifier will have to deal with Thursday’s prelims top team Bullis School of Potomac, MD, which ran 3:46.31 and Nansemond River 3:46.87.
But the danger could be Sydney McLaughlin, the World Youth 400m hurdles champion, who was very easy on anchor, for Union Catholic of Scotch Plains, NJ, with 3:46.85. McLaughlin split 55.80, but has ran 51.84 indoor this year.
Carifta Games and Champs Class One 100m champion Patrice Moody (56.53 split) anchored Edwin Allen to 3:48.07 in their heat. Davia Smith, however, was Edwin Allen’s fastest with 55.66 split. Holmwood 9:15.15 (Small Schools Prelims) and Edwin Allen 9:12.65 (Large School prelims) are into the Championship of America 4x800m finals.
Meanwhile, five Jamaican schools are into the High School Girls’ 4x100m Championship of American final. Holmwood with Williams led the qualifiers with 45.64 from the Small School Heats while Shellece Clark helped Edwin Allen to top the Large School Girls’ 4x100m prelims in 45.79.
St. Catherine with St. Lucian Julien Alfred and Shian Hyde topped heat 28 in 47.08 to secure their place. Excelsior 46.55 and Green Island 47.18 also qualified from the same heat.
St. Augustine of Nassau, Bahamas, won their heat in 47.17 and will also be in the big final. Vere 9:19.89 and Spalding 9:24.86, the other Jamaicans 4x800m teams, failed to make the final of the Championship of America final.