Jamaican girls on the double

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Philadelphia:

MANCHESTER High's Chanice Porter and Rochelle Farquharson of St Elizabeth Technical gave Jamaican schools a flying start on yesterday's opening day of the 116th staging of the Penn Relays.

Competing in her first-ever Penn Relays, long jumper Porter continued her unbeaten run this season by posting an impressive 6.12 metres for gold.

"I am very pleased with my win and I feel great as it is the first time I am competing at the Penn Relays," said Porter. Jamaican athletes swept the top three positions as Camperdown's Nickeava Wilson (5.80m) and Holmwood Technical Nickeisha Beaumont (5.77m) finished second and third, respectively.

Farquharson repeated her 2009 win in the triple jump with a best leap of 12.56m.

She was happy for the victory but revealed that she competed in some discomfort.

"I have an ankle injury and it affected my performance," said Farquharson.

Third place

Defending high jump champion Peter-Gaye Reid of St Elizabeth Technical had to settle for third with 1.76m. Carifta Under-17 champion Akila Jones of Barbados won with 1.81m.

In the morning session, Edwin Allen High's Ristananna Tracy was second in the 400 metres hurdles, clocking 59.42 seconds behind winner Leah Nugent of Abington in Pennsylvania, 59.15.

Yesterday also saw the preliminary rounds of the girls' 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m.

Edwin Allen were the top Jamaican school as they had the fastest qualifying times in both the sprint relay and the 4x800.

New champions will be crowned in the 4x100m as defending champions Vere Technical dropped the baton on the first hand off. Edwin Allen won their heat in 46.21 to lead four other Jamaican teams into today's Championships of America final. The Queen's School (46.31), Holmwood (46.34), Herbert Morrison (46.69) and Manchester High (46.95) in the final.

Consolation final

Before this final, Camperdown High (47.66) and St Jago High (47.91) will compete in the consolation final for small schools.

Edwin Allen, 9:01.34, and Holmwood Technical, 9:03.39, won their respective heats in the 4x800m to be the top two fastest qualifiers for today's final.

Four Jamaican teams will run off in today's 4x400m final where a battle royal is looming with the Americans, as Benjamin Cordoza out of Oakland Gardens, New York, are the fastest qualifiers with 3:41.62. Holmwood, who are expected to bring in top runner Chris-Ann Gordon in the final, are the next best qualifiers with 3:42.96. Edwin Allen, 3:43.00, Manchester High, 3:43.00, and Vere Technical with 3:43.74 are the other Jamaican teams to advance.

The boys will bow into action this morning with the first event being the 4x800m. Holmwood Technical, Jamaica College and favourites Kingston College are the Jamaican teams down to compete.

There will also be field event finals today for high school girls with Candecia Bernard and Devene Brown of St Hugh's High, Edwin Allen's Sashasgaye Marston and Vere Technical's Vanessa Levy down to compete.