Grange - File

PENNSYLVANIA, USA:

Gleneve Grange demolished the field along with the national junior record and championship record to capture the girls' discus as she won the only gold medal by a Jamaican athlete on yesterday's first full day of action at the 119th staging of the Penn Relays being staged at the Franklin Field Stadium, Philadelphia.

The Holmwood Technical High student threw a huge 54.29m to break the previous mark of 51.02m set by former St Jago athlete Kellion Knibb in June, 2012. The previous championship mark, also 51.02m, was set by former Edwin Allen representative Daniel Thomas, last year.

Edwin Allen's Tara-Sue Barnett who beat Grange at Boys and Girls' Championships last month had to settle for the silver with a throw of 50.02m. Bronze went to Cherokee High's Jessica Woodard (47.70m), with Edwin Allen's Paula-Ann Gayle (45.78m) placing fourth.

Jamaican athletes pocketed silver and bronze medals in the high school girls' long jump and high jump.

Edwin Allen's Claudette Allen leapt a distance of 6.05m for silver in the long jump with Manchester High's Annastacia Forrester just .01m behind with a distance of 6.04m for the bronze.

The gold medal went to South County's Felecia Majors (6.17m).

In the high jump, St Andrew High's Chennel Palmer and Vere Technical's Jehvania Vidal-Whyte accounted for the silver and bronze medals with the latter clearing 1.71m.

Palmer cleared 1.75m, the same as the winner Cyre Virgo of Fleetwood but lost out on the count back.

Jamaica's seventh medal of the day came in the high school girls' 400m hurdles courtesy of Alpha's Sashel Brown, 1.00.13. The gold medal was won by Lindblom's Shamier Little (58.80) ahead of Wootton's Gwen Shaw (59.97).

The major disappointment for a Jamaican school came in the 4x800m where Holmwood Technical were disqualified after their third-leg runner stepped off the track twice. The Christiana-based school were first across the line in their heat in 9:21.93.

Edwin Allen, hunting their third championship win in the 4x800m, advanced to today's final with the fastest time, 9:05.41.

Unlike the 4x800m where Edwin Allen are Jamaica's lone representative in the final, five Jamaican schools have progressed to the Championship of America 4x100m final. Edwin Allen lead the pack with a time of 45.41 seconds followed by Holmwood Technical (45.52).

Holmwood (3:42.35) lead five Jamaican schools, including defending champions Edwin Allen, into the final of the Championship of America 4x400m.

University of Technology won heat three of the 4x100m and 4x400m in times of 44.36 and 3:34.22 respectively to advance to the finals. The 4x100m final will be contested today while the 4x400m final is set for tomorrow.