Kingston College and Calabar High Shine at Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania: On a bright and sunny day at the Penn Relays, Kingston College (KC) and Calabar High showcased their incredible talent, capturing the Championship of America titles in the 4×400 metres and 4×100 metres, respectively. The atmosphere inside Franklin Field Stadium was electric as fans cheered for their favorite teams.

Kingston College Makes History

KC made headlines by clocking an impressive 3:05.93 in the 4x400m, becoming the first Jamaican team to win this event four consecutive times. They faced tough competition from Bullis High out of Maryland, who finished second with a new American high school record of 3:06.31, breaking Long Beach Poly’s 2007 mark of 3:09.89. Calabar High followed closely in third place with a time of 3:06.52.

Despite missing their top quarter-miler, Tahj Marques White, who stayed back in Jamaica, KC’s team didn’t falter. Jabulani McLeod kicked off the race with a strong start, followed by Markell Smith and Roshawn Lee. Marcinho Rose, a veteran of the previous three winning teams, held off Bullis High’s Olympian Quincy Wilson, who recorded a stunning split of 43.99 seconds but couldn’t catch Rose.

Coach Richard Smith expressed his pride, saying, “It is a beautiful and wonderful feeling knowing that KC has created history once again, especially on our 100th anniversary. I am very proud of my boys. Despite the talk about Bullis, we were always confident because we know the depth of our team.”

Calabar High Breaks an Eight-Year Drought

Calabar High didn’t disappoint in the 4x100m, breaking an eight-year drought by winning the event in 39.79 seconds. The team, consisting of Jamal Stephenson, Shaquane Gordon, Dijon Swaine, and Khamani Gordon, showcased their speed and teamwork. Archbishop John Carroll from Washington, DC, finished second in 40.04 seconds.

Calabar entered the final as the fastest qualifiers after winning their heat the previous day in 40.24 seconds. Coach Corey Bennett praised his athletes, saying, “Words cannot explain how hard these guys worked. All they had to do was stay healthy. Thank God for the victory.”

Bennett acknowledged the nerves that come with high expectations but emphasized their confidence. “We were always confident, as these guys have been working as a team for the past three years,” he noted, thanking past student Floyd Howell for his support.

Other Jamaican Teams in Action

In the 4x800m, KC finished sixth with a time of 7:44.95, while Calabar came in tenth at 7:51.44. Edwin Allen followed closely behind in 11th place with 7:52.22.

Girls’ Preliminary Rounds

As the excitement continued, preliminary rounds for the girls’ 4x100m and 4x400m Championship of America relays took place. Defending champions Hydel High led the way in the 4x100m, clocking 44.55 seconds to emerge as the fastest qualifiers. Edwin Allen followed closely with a time of 44.63 seconds.

Three other Jamaican teams—Wolmer’s Girls, Holmwood Technical, and St Mary High—also advanced to the finals. In the 4x800m, Alphansus Davis, Holmwood, and Edwin Allen secured spots for today’s finals.

Looking Ahead

With the preliminary round of the 4x400m relays set to kick off at 7:45 a.m. today, excitement is building for the finals scheduled for 5 p.m. Will the Jamaican teams continue their winning streak? Only time will tell!