JC dominate boys’ events on day two at Penns

FRANKLIN FIELD, Philadelphia

Jamaica College’s (JC) Michael Andrae Edwards and Joseph Salmon secured impressive victories in their respective events at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia yesterday.

Edwards produced an outstanding performance to break the 10-year-old triple jump record with a leap of 16.29 metres. The defending champion broke the 2016 mark of 16.01m set by another JC athlete, O’Brien Waysome. Riquelme Hunter of Kingston College was third in the event with 15.41m, while Kabiki Thomas of Wolmer’s Boys was fifth with 14.77m and Antonio Anderson of Calabar High, sixth with 14.71m.

Salmon picked up his school’s second win following another fine display in the boys’ discus with a throw of 63.55 metres on his second attempt. Jamaican high schools claimed the top four spots, as Kemari Kennedy of Calabar (61.19m), Rajuan Street of Munro College (60.25m) and Daijan Budhai of Kingston College (57.63m) finished second, third and fourth respectively.

Defending champion in the javelin throw, Addison James of Edwin Allen High, secured victory with a distance of 72.44 metres to retain his title.

Javier Cato of JC was the best-placed Jamaican in the long jump, finishing fourth with 7.11m.

On the track, JC were also the top qualifiers in two Championships of America relays.

Following preliminary round action in the 4x100m and 4x800m, JC advanced to the finals with the fastest times in both events.

In the opening event of the day, the 4x800m, the quartet of Rasheed Pryce, Carlos Briscoe Caines, Sekoni Brown and Shamar Green clocked 7:43.57 to head into today’s final. JC will be the only Jamaican team in the final scheduled for 3:40 p.m. (Jamaica time). Kingston College were one of the biggest disappointments in the event as the former champions failed to advance after finishing fourth in their heat in 7:51.88.

JC are also the fastest qualifiers heading into today’s final of the Championships of America 4x100m. They clocked 40.11 seconds to win their heat and will be joined by eight other Jamaican teams in the final. Kingston College (40.26), Edwin Allen (40.37), Excelsior High (40.54), St Jago High (40.73), Petersfield High (41.19), St Mary High (41.21) and Wolmer’s (41.24) also progressed. The United States will be represented by St James Academy out of Springfield, Virginia, the second-fastest qualifier with 40.24, as they look to challenge the Jamaican dominance.

Action among the boys will continue this morning with preliminary rounds of the 4x400m starting at 7:45 a.m.