PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- All eyes coming into the race were on three teams -- Hydel and Edwin Allen of Jamaica and Bullis School (MD) -- and they did not disappoint.
Hydel led the race from the gun, but needed an incredibly gutsy anchor leg from Oneika McAnnuff to hold off its two prime challengers to repeat as champion in the girls 4x400m Championship of America at the 2023 Penn Relays presented by Toyota on Saturday.
Hydel's winning time of 3:35.63 was the sixth-fastest in meet history.
But while Hydel may have only had the fourth-fastest qualifying time out of the preliminary heats, there was no mistaking the favorite. It was the Jamaicans.
Dannielle King easily maintained the stagger on her opening leg and handed off to Jody-Ann Daley, who made a confident break for the rail and began to open a gap on her chasers from Edwin Allen.
That advantage over Edwin Allen only swelled as Aaliyah Mullings poured it on with a 52.93 split.
But the Jamaicans weren't getting off that easily.
Sophomore Sydney Sutton made a huge surge on the third leg and pulled Bullis into second place, within striking distance of Hydel with a 52.70 split of her own.
That left the race down to the anchors, and it took everything that McAnnuff had to hold off Sage Hinton of Bullis and Kellyann Carr of Edwin Allen.
With about 150 meters to go, Hinton pulled up to McAnnuff's outside shoulder and Carr was a half step behind, sending the already frenzied crowd into near delirium. As they came down the final straight, Carr overtook Hinton and attempted to push for the lead but was unable to get there before McAnnuff crossed the tape.
McAnnuff's 54.66 effort was just enough to keep the Penn Relays wheel out of the hands of Carr (53.22) and Edwin Allen, which crossed second in 3:36.20, or Hinton (53.97) and Bullis, which finished third in 3:36.25, the fourth-fastest time in U.S. history.
The CoA effort by Bullis capped two phenomenal races by the team, which won its heat in 3:40.62, the second-fastest of the prelims behind Edwin Allen (3:40.38).
Myla Greene, who anchored the prelim race in 53.90, ran lead-off in the CoA followed by Mirai Bernard on leg two.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"We care about each other so much. I'm sorry, but we deserve this so bad. Even though it's not a national record, it's so close."
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- Peyton Hollis, Union Catholic
RACE BREAKDOWNS
Alexa Governor of Williamson Central (NY) en route to winning the girls 5K racewalk.
Photo credit: Ryan Comstock
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High School Girls 5K Racewalk: Alexa Governor of Williamson Central, the New York Indoor State Championships bronze medalist in the 1,500m racewalk, dominated the competition for a one-minute victory in 24.52.06. Governor took control of the race between 600m and 1,000m, when she surged to the lead with a 1:59.07 split. She never trailed again. Samantha Mynio of Washingtonville (NY) finished second in 25:51.21 while Kyra Pellegrino of Gates-Chili (NY) took third in 26:00.78.
U20 Men's 5K Racewalk: Ryan Allen of Shore AC put together a consistent really start en route to winning by one minute in 22:38.48. Allen strung together three 1:45 splits between 200m and 1,400m an never looked back. Rowan MacDonald of Maine Race Walkers placed second in 23:38.75 with Clayton Stoil finishing third in 24:21.98.
U20 Women's 5K Racewalk: Teammates Heather Durant and Angelica Harris of Elgin Sharks engaged in a see-saw battle early before Durant took control down the stretch en route to winning in 23:27.20. Harris lead for the first 1,400m before Durant put together a 1:52.75 lap to take over in front. The pace slowed over the next quarter, with Harris inching back in front with a 1:54.06 lap. She held the lead for another 400 meters before Durant surged to an eight-second lead she would not relinquish with a 1:46.34 seventh lap. Harris finished second in 24:10.28. Mia Priore of Marist was third in 25:35.73.
High School Girls prep Independent 4x400: Kaelin Creagh anchored in 57.74, the fastest split of the race, and Deerfield Prep (MA) led from start to finish behind legs from Campbell Fealy, Alexis Miller, and Josephine Louis en route to a six-second win in 4:03.86. Loomis Chaffee (CT) was second in 4:09.62 and Peninsula Catholic (VA) finished third in 4:17.13.
High School Girls Prep Prep 4x400: The Lawrenceville (NJ) quartet of Elizabeth Parnell, Sofia Swindell, Jael Gaines, and Rhianna Scott dominated the race, cruising to a 17-second victory in 3:56.13. Parnell led off in 1:01.91, Swindell split 57.89, Gaines followed in 58.83 and Scott anchored in 57.52. Holton-Arms School (MD) was second in 4:13.02 and Blair Academy (NJ) took third in 4:13.06.
High School Girls Philadelphia Academic 4x400: Veronica Lentz (1:02.87) and Dani Shipon (1:01.35) kept things close over the first two laps before Michaela Poland (58.36) and Alli DeLisi (56.49) dropped the hammer to lead William Penn Charter (PA) to victory in 3:59.05. Notre Dame Academy (PA) finished a distant second in 4:08.80 while Episcopal Academy (PA) took third in 4:10.55.
High School Girls Central 4x400: This one was never in doubt as Olivia Cieslak led off in 58.05, Aubrey Leneweaver blasted a race-best 56.66 second leg, Riona O'Neill split 1:02.44 on the third lap and Morgan Elliott anchored in 57.79 to power Haverford (PA) to the win in 3:54.93. Penncrest (PA) finished runner-up in 4:00.49 and Strath Haven took third in 4:05.06.
STAT OF THE DAY
3:35.63
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Hydel's girls 4x400 team ran the sixth-fastest time in Penn Relays history on Saturday.
High School Girls Suburban A 4x400: Janaisa Dearry put together a 57.72 anchor leg to rally Chester (PA) passed Penn Wood (PA) for the victory in 3:58.68. Third leg Kelisa Beckett split 1:01.59 and handed-off with a lead at the bell for Penn Wood, but it was not able to hold and wound up second in 4:01.43. Perkiomen Valley (PA) placed third in 4:04.35.
High School Girls Suburban Chesmont 4x400: Downingtown West (PA) ran in second place through the first three laps before anchor leg Ryleigh Hearn took off and rounded the final lap in 56.03, bringing her team a victory over rival Downingtown East (PA), 3:57.90 to 4:01.09. Avon Grove (PA) closed hard, behind a 57.62 anchor by Lily Schindler, but ran out of track, finishing third in 4:01.50.
High School Girls Suburban National 4x400: Alexandra Duff moved up two places with a 1:00.07 third leg and handed off to anchor Megan Chester, who split 59.23 to bring home a victory for North Penn (PA) in 4:01.24. Central Bucks South (PA) finished second in 4:02.29 while Central Bucks East crossed third in 4:03.31.
High School Girls Suburban American 4x400: Mason Kullmann climbed from third to first with a 1:00.13 third leg, giving Talia Hoffner the lead she needed to close out a victory for Upper Dublin (PA) in 3:59.76. Hoffner split 58.21 on the final lap to hold off late charges from Cheltenham (PA) anchor Eyota Bey (57.34) and Wissahickon (PA) anchor Mila Jovanovic (57.86). Cheltenham wound up second in 4:00.17 and Wissahickon took third in 4:01.65.
High School Girls Northern Delaware 4x400: Juliana Balon opened in 57-flat and Mary Flanagan bookended that with a 57.62 anchor to help deliver Padua Academy (DE) a victory in 3:56.35. Tatnall (DE) finished second in 4:04.10 while Conrad School of Science (DE) placed third in 4:07.49.
High School Girls South Jersey Small 4x400: Nester Wea led off in 59.3 and Willingboro (NJ) never looked back, cruising to an eight-second victory in 4:01.33. Haddonfield (NJ) finished second in 4:09.17 while Audubon crossed third in 4:14.11.
High School Girls. South Jersey Large 4x400: Sianni Wynn split a blistering 55.39 on the second leg to rally Pennsauken from third to first and Sanaya Dupree and Ameenah Rodriguez held off a challenge from Winslow (NJ) to win in 3:58.41. Anchor Janelle Marshall closed a big gap with her 57.92 final lap but it was not enough and Winslow wound up second in 3:59.67. Timber Creek (NJ) placed third in 4:00.53.
High School Girls Philadelphia Catholic 4x400: Bonner Prendergast (PA) made a huge rally over the final three legs to take the race in 4:14.21. The team found itself way back in seventh place after the opening lap but Raziah Womack picked off four runners ahead of her during a 62-second second lap. Allison O'Brien moved Bonner from third to second at the bell and Tamasen Allen Bey anchored in 1:00.15 to score the win. Archbishop Wood (PA) was runner-up in 4:18.39 with Lansdale Catholic (PA) behind in third in 4:22.40.
High School Girls Philadelphia Public 4x400: Payton Drumwright split 57.86 on the second leg to give Engineering & Science (PA) a lead it would not relinquish en route to victory in 4:04.98. John Bartram (PA) finished second in 4:12.11 and Central (PA) took third in 4:13.69.
ATHLETES OF THE MEET
High School Boys (Track): Rocky Hansen, Christ School (NC)
High School Boys (Field): Wyatt Stewart, Madison Central (KY)
High School Girls (Track): Peyton Hollis, Union Catholic (NJ)
High School Girls (Field): Cedricka Williams, Holmwood Technical (JAM)
CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA FINAL
Alliah Baker crosses the finish line to bring Hydel (JAM) a victory in the 4x100m Championship of America
Photo credit: Tom Smith
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Heavily-favored Hydel of Jamaica won the high school girls Championship of America 4x100, as expected, and Alana Reid, Oneika McAnnuff, Shemonique Hazle, and Alliah Baker formed the squad that ran an impressive 44.16 seconds, the fifth-fastest time in Penn Relays history.
The victory, Hydel's first ever, extended Jamaica's dominance in this event as teams from the Caribbean nation have now claimed the last nine Penn Relays wheels and 39 of the 46 races contested in meet history.
Bullis (MD) came in second with Kennedy Flynn, Jade Ofotan, Sage Hinton, and Mirai Bernard finishing in 45.59.
St. Jago placed third in 45.98 with Bryana Davidson, Quana Walker, Briana Campbell, and Poshana Lee Blake.
High School Girls Northeast 4x100: Union Catholic (NJ) used a strong anchor by Natalia Thompson to hold off JodiAnn Ebanks and Benjamin Cardozo (NY) to win this race, 47.29 to 47.26. Paramus Catholic (NJ) finished third in 48.53 in this race, which featured the top nine teams from the Northeast that did not qualify for the Championship of America.
High School Girls National 4x100: The Archbishop Carroll (DC) quartet of Simisola Balogun, Jasmine Sharps, Stella Anani, and Jadah Rasool cruised to victory in this race, which featured the top nine teams outside of the northeast that did not qualify for the Championship of America, in 47.52. Ridge View (SC) placed second in 48.75 and Gaithersburg (MD) took third in 49.16.
High School Girls International 4x100: Holmwood Tech (JAM) anchor Monique Proudlove out-leaned Tianna Rhoomes of St. Mary (JAM) to deliver the one of the closest finishes of the meet, 46.81 to 46.85. The race featured the nine fastest international teams that did not qualify for the Championship of America. St. Catherine (JAM) placed third in 47.22.
High School Girls Philadelphia Area 4x400: Mary Flanagan split 56.63 on the anchor to rally Padua Academy (DE) from fourth place to victory in 3:54.33. A furious finish saw anchor Rhianna Scott of Lawrenceville (NJ) splitting 57.66 to bring her team up two spots to second place in 3:55.24, and Alli DeLisi of Penn Charter (PA) post the second-fastest split of the race at 55.61 to rally her team from sixth to third place in 3:55.47.
Olympic Development Women's 200m: As the only high school athlete in the field, Shawnti Jackson stormed to victory in 23.11. Her time is an improvement on her season-opener of 26.68 and just off her outdoor 200m PR of 23.06 from the 2021 North Carolina state meet.
The South Granville (NC) senior and Arkansas commit bested Kortnei Johnson (23.38), Felicia Brown Edwards (23.59), Brittany Aveni (23.86) and Maia McCoy (24.02).
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- All eyes coming into the race were on three teams -- Hydel and Edwin Allen of Jamaica and Bullis School (MD) -- and they did not disappoint.
Hydel led the race from the gun, but needed an incredibly gutsy anchor leg from Oneika McAnnuff to hold off its two prime challengers to repeat as champion in the girls 4x400m Championship of America at the 2023 Penn Relays presented by Toyota on Saturday.