... St Jago look to spoil Edwin Allen's party

RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

TRACK and field fans are in for a treat today as the 39th staging of the Gibson McCook Relays will be held inside the National Stadium.

Action begins at 9:30 am with the preliminaries of the high school boys' 4x400 metres.

Fireworks are expected as teams seek to seek psychological advantage ahead of next months' Boys' and Girls' Championships.

Undoubtedly one of the most popular relay meets in the world, another bumper crowd is expected, and with some 10 Championship events to be contested, the day should be sizzling with fierce action.

The championships events are Class One girls' 4x100m; Class Two girls' 4x100m; 4x400m high school girls' open; 4x800m high school girls' open; Class One boys' 4x100m; Class Two boys' 4x100m; high school boys' 4x400m; high school boys' 4x800m; 4x100m Institution men, and 4x400m Institution men.

new addition

The boys' and girls' Class Two 4x100m are new addition to the list this year. Winners of these events will be presented with commemorative Gibson Relays watches.

Among the Championships events, both high school male and female 4x400m and the boys' 4x800m should attract a lot of attention, as epic battles are expected.

The girls' competition could be called 'four the hard way' as St Jago, Holmwood, Vere Technical, and Edwin Allen high schools are expected to fight out the finish.

This could be St Jago's best performance at the meet in years, as they could walk away with four or five wins, and are given the edge as their rivals have lost members from last year's teams.

St Jago, in the meantime, have retained all of last year's members and now have the services of former Vere standout Andrenette Knight.

Knight, along with Genekee Leith and the outstanding Natalliah Whyte, could give the Keilando Goburn-coached team a long overdue win.

Favourites Kingston College are not expected to compete in the boys' event, but defending champions Calabar , who broke the record last year after running 3:07.00, along with St Jago and St Elizabeth Technical, should provide a battle royale in the 4x400m.

class two sensation

St Jago, with Martin Manley, Ivan Henry, and Nathon Allen, are given the edge, but Calabar, with Michael O'Hara, Anthony Carpenter, and Class Two sensation Christopher Taylor, could make it back-to-back wins.

St Elizabeth Technical, with Okeem and Marvin Williams, should not be taken lightly.

A grudge duel is expected in the boys' 4x800m, as KC will be aiming to avenge their defeat at the Milo Western Relays.

There they were leading St Elizabeth Technical to the final 50m, before outstanding Class Two athlete Jauveney James sprinted away from Chad Miller to win in 7:45.18 ahead of KC 7:47.04.

Since then, KC has shown that they have the team to overturn their rivals. At the SW Isaac Henry Meet a week ago, they scored an impressive win over GC Foster College, clocking a very fast 7: 35.99. It will be interesting to see if they can repeat that run today.

STAR TOP

SELECTIONS

FEMALES

High School Girls Class 1 4x100m

Battle royale between Holmwood led by Sashalee Forbes and Ashley Williams with St Jago led by Whyte and Shanice Reid with St Jago given the edge.

1. St Jago

2. Holmwood

3. Edwin Allen

High School Girls Class 11 4x100m

No stopping the Shellece Clarke-led Edwin Allen team as they could go sub-45 seconds here.

1. Edwin Allen (record)

2. Holmwood

3. Hydel

Class Girls 4x100M Class 111

Kimone Shaw expected to anchor St Jago to victory here

1. St Jago

2. Vere

3. Manchester High

Class 1V 4x100M

Defending champions Edwin Allen to prevail over a very good St Jago team

1. Edwin Allen

2. St Jago

3. Hydel

4x100M Clubs and Institutions

UTech with Christania Williams and Chanice Bonner set to get the better of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce-led MVP once again.

1. UTech

2. MVP

3. Racers

4x400M High School Girls Open

1. St Jago

2. Vere

3. Edwin Allen

4x800M High School Girls Open

1. Vere

2. Holmwood

3. Edwin Allen

MALES

4x100M Class 1

Red Hills Lion set to roar once again and should break their record

1. Calabar (record)

2. St Jago

3. STETHS

4x100m Class 11

Calabar aims for Kingston College one year record here.

1. Calabar

2. KC

3. JC

Class 111

1. KC

2. JC

3. St Jago

Class 1V 4x100m

1. KC (record)

2. JC

3. Wolmer's Boys

4x100M Clubs and Institutions

UTech could silence defending champion Racers Lions here

1. UTech

2. Racers Lion

3. MVP

4x400M High School Boys

1. St Jago

2. STETHS

3. Calabar

4x800M High school Boys

1. KC

2. STETHS

3. JC