PHILADELPHIA, USA — Jamaica’s senior women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams won their respective events in the USA vs The World on yesterday’s final day of the 125th Penn Relays under bright blue skies, but cold conditions at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
The Jamaican women’s sprint relay team retained the only title they won last year and finished first and second in the mile relay in front of a large crowd of mainly Jamaicans and Caribbean fans.
Led off by World and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Faser-Pryce, the women’s 4x100m team ran 43.19 seconds as Canada took second in 44.37 seconds followed across the line by USA Red — 44.40 seconds and USA Blue in 44.60 seconds.
Natasha Morrison, Shillonie Calvert and Shasha Lee Forbes made up the team that took the championship watches.
It was double celebrations in the 4x400m as two Jamaican teams finished first and second with Canada third.
Jamaica Gold with Shericka Jackson (51.6), Janieve Russell (52.5), Christine Day (52.41) and Stephenie McPherson (52.47) combined for 3:28.94 minutes.
Jamaica Green with Roneisha McGregor (53.7), Anatasia Leroy (52.3), Rhonda Whyte (53.21), Tiffany James (51.78) took second with 3:31.04, while Canada ran 3:31.63 seconds for third.
USA Red won with 38.80 seconds, followed by Canada (38.94 seconds) and USA Blue third in 39.16 seconds.
The men’s 4x400m team ran 3:05.93 seconds for fourth place with Demish Gaye (46.7), Fitzroy Dunkley (46.2), Rusheen McDonald (45.59), and Anthony Carpenter (47.48) behind USA Red (3:02.70), Canada (3:04.54) and the Bahamas (3:05.58).
The women’s Sprint Medley Relay team of Gayon Evans, Sherone Simpson, Ronda Whyte, Verone Chambers finished second in 1:39.57 minutes, behind the USA (1:37.87) with Canada third (1:40.42), while the men were third in 3:19.25 seconds with the team of Chad Walker, Rasheed Dwyer, Rusheen McDonald and Daniel Glave.
— Paul Reid
