RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

Holmwood Technical girl's and St Elizabeth Technical boys are the two most outstanding high schools 4x800 metres relay teams at the Penn Relays.

Although winning some six titles, STETHS have not won since their last success in 1996 and will be hoping that this time around they will be seven time lucky.

Despite not being the fastest team going into the event they will, however, start favourites here as Kingston College, the most dominant team in the event this season, will not be at full strength.

KC will be without two of their top athletes, Chad Miller and Twayne Crooks, who both have been influential in two big wins so far this season.With their winning time of 7:33.87 at the Gibson McCook Relays to break a 21-year-old record, the Hamlin Pagon-coached KC team has the fastest time going into Penns.

They also defeated a strong G.C. Foster College team at the SW Isaac Henry Meet where Crooks had an excellent split of sub 1:51 on the anchor leg. STETHS, which finished second at Gibson McCook Relays in 7:34.78 , also inside the old record is taking no chances.

After their sub-9:00 at the Gibson McCook Relays, eight-time female champions Holmwood will carry the hope of a Jamaican victory here .

Their winning time of 8:54.55 saw them finishing way ahead of main rival, Vere, in 9:02.05 and Lisa Buchanan looks set to take them home for their ninth victory.

On paper, seven-time champions, Vere has a decent squad, but somehow have not transferred that talent on the track.

If they hope to join Holmwood, then Britnie Dixon, Sasha-gaye Whyte, Sanique Walker, and Derri Ann Hill will have to lift their performances.