Photo Credit: Jamaican Gleaner
WATCH LIVE: THE PENN RELAYS
AIRING FROM APRIL 28-30 ON FLOTRACK/MILESPLIT
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By Nolan Jez - MileStat
The triple crown of Jamaican track and field began its course this past weekend with the running of the Gibson McCook Relays.
Following this event will be the Boys & Girls Champs at the start of April, and then a season-culminating performance with the Jamaicans traveling up to Philadelphia for The Penn Relays.
So, this is where we start.
Gibson was the first real look at what our Jamaican counterparts are offering at the prep level. American track and field fans can point to the Gibson McCook Relays as to what the Jamaican juggernauts may have in store for us come Penn Relays.
"For many (Jamaican) athletes this is their first exposure to a major meet. This meet prepares them for large relay-style meets. This style of meet is embedded as a part of the culture," said Alton McKenzie, Georgetown's Director of Track & Field. McKenzie is also a former Calabar athlete.
What can we gather from this? The top-line recap from the weekend and, conversely, the first preview of Penn might once again be:
"U.S. Teams Will Need National Records To Win."
That is the case yet again after a fantastic showing by the Jamaican preps at Gibson. The biggest showings were in the girls 4x100, boys 4x800, and girls 4x400 relays.
Girls 4x100m Relay
In the Class 1 (17-18) race, Edwin Allen put on another show thanks in part to the Clayton sisters, who helped EA run 43.37 -- or in American terms, 1.07 seconds faster than our national record.
Second place was Hydel, which ran 44.40 and also eclipsed the U.S. high school record.
In the Class 2 (15-16) race, Hydel was victorious in 44.62. If Edwin Allen wasn't trouble enough with the team's 43.37, you also have Hydel, which has two teams at or faster than our national record.
Finally, just for fun, the Class 3 (13-14) race also had St. Jago in 45.71, Hydel in 46.45 and Holmwood Technical in 46.98.
Boys 4x800m Relay
Often teams think that Jamaica only runs the 4x100 and 4x400, but the truth is a lot scarier. In this race they dominate even more.
If you don't believe us, go back and watch Eleanor Roosevelt break the U.S. high school record by seven full seconds and still lose to a Jamaican team.
Here is no different with Jamaica College already having run 7:24.30 to win.
Kingston College ran 7:36.21 for second and St. Jago was third with their 7:45.46 clocking. These times are impressive, because typical Jamaican training starts with speed and works up to these longer distances later in the season.
Plainly put, these times will get lowered in a big way.
For reference, Jamaica College's winning time is over four seconds faster than our national record. The team's winning time averages at 1:51.
Girls 4x400m Relay
It has been over a decade since a U.S. team won a 4x400 at Penn Relays on either side and it looks very unlikely this year with Hydel in the driver's seat yet again.
This powerhouse squad threw down a 3:33.76 clocking at Gibson and is situated to better their own meet record this April.
Edwin Allen was second in 3:41 and Holmwood was third in 3:42. St. Jago finished fourth in 3:43.
Some American Hope
There is some American hope at Penn in a couple of relays.
The obvious two are the DMRs, where schools must choose one or the other between the DMR and the 4x8. If this rule would change, things would get dicey in a hurry.
Jamaica may not have a bunch of 4:01 milers, but they do have 45-splits on the 400 leg and 1:48 splits on 800 making up any difference to be had.
The other areas where American teams could find success is the boys 4x1 and 4x4 this year.
Jamaican teams failed to break 40 this go-around but did come close. If there was a team -- looking at you Archbishop John Carroll -- that could put together a squad and break 40, they would have a serious shot.
Finally in the 4x400, the winning time was 3:10 with a 3:11, 3:12, 3:13, 3:14 and 3:15 too. There is a lot of depth but right now, but is nothing and no one is untouchable.
Full results of this meet can be found on MileSplit right here.