Team RCS attended the three days of the Penn Relays held at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field, April 28-30 , 2016. Caribbean track stars have graced the 121 year old meet over the years. Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Yohan Blake and many other famed Jamaicans have run at the Penn Relays.
The RCS team was fortunate to meet Trinidadian Edwin Roberts, who won 2 medals in the 1966 Olympics. This correspondent referred to him as a former Olympian and he kindly reminded me that once an Olympian, always an Olympian.
On Friday, Jamaica’s Edwin Allen H.S. stood out by winning the girl’s 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter championship relays. The school continued to perform early Saturday with Edwin Allen’s Rayan Holmes winning the boys 400-meter hurdles championship.
The Jamaicans have over the years sent many Schools and college track teams to the meet. Along with the Jamaicans, other Caribbean nations attended. This year, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas registered seven high school teams each and scholastic squads from Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent and the U.S. Virgin Islands and St Kitts and Nevis took part.
Team Jamaica Bickle
Biggups to Team Jamaica Bickle, a not for profit organization which assists the visiting Caribbean athletes by providing meals and other refreshments, physical therapy, chiropractic and medical services, mentoring, ground transportation to the meet, ground transportation to and from the airport and subsidized hotel rates.
On Saturday, the final day of the Penn Relays Carnival, Franklin Field was packed, with avid track fans. The Jamaicans, as in most years were out in full force with their colors, black gold and green. The weather, although cold at first warmed up to 63 degrees and was an absolutely glorious day.
In the USA vs the World 4×400 Women
lane line up
2 BVI
3 St Kitts and Nevis
4 Ghana
5 USA Red
6 Jamaica
7 Trinidad and Tobago
8 Nigeria
9 USA Blue
USA Red Team won with a time of 3:26.83. Sanya Richards-Ross announced that this would be her last lap at Penn Relays and she went out smoking! Jamaica was second with a time of 3:29.00. Nigeria finished in third place with a time of 3:32.37.
This is my last season competing, and it’s been great to reflect on how blessed I’ve been. My teammates gave me an amazing lead and it felt almost like I was running a victory lap. It’s a little bit emotional, and I wanted to take in the moment warming up. It’s been a blessing to compete with my teammates and to be a part of team USA.” Sanya Richards-Ross
In the USA vs the World 4×100 Men
lane line up
3 Haiti
4 Namibia
5 USA Red
6 Jamaica
7 St Kitts and Nevis
8 Nigeria
9 USA Blue
Jamaica was first with 38.70 and USA Blue took 2nd place with 39.02, St. Kitts/Nevis placed 3rd with 39.49.
In the high schools boys 4x 400 Jamaica College (Kingston, JAM) took 1st place, Calabar (Kingston, JAM) 2nd place, TC Williams 3rd place (Alexandria, VA). Honorable mention to St Jago (St. Catherine, JAM) which took 5th place.
One of the highlights of this year’s meet was the Mixed master 80 and over. 100 year old Ida Keeling ran the 100 meter dash setting a world record for the 100 year old with a time of 1 minute 17.33 seconds.
For full Penn Relays results, visit pennrelaysonline.com Enjoy the pics!.