Raymond Graham, STAR Writer

Head coach of Edwin Allen High girls team, Michael Dyke, is still celebrating after two big wins at the Penn Relays in Pennsylvania at the weekend.

Dyke described the relay wins as 'the sweetest ever' as his school entered both the 4x100m and 4x400m as the underdogs. Many onlookers felt that they would be blown away by a more experienced St Jago High team in both events.

"We were not favourites to win any of the two relays ... we were big underdogs behind St Jago," Dyke said after the 4x400m win last Saturday.

St Jago were hoping to break a long drought at the Penn Relays. Their last 4x100m win came in 2005. They have not won the 4x400m since 2000.

This year, however, St Jago, apart from going into the meet with the fastest times, had a wealth of experience on both squads. Peta Gaye Williams had competed for Camperdown twice, Shanice Reid, Natalliah Whyte, Genekee Leith and Andrenette Knight who competed for Vere Technical thrice had vast experience over their rivals.

Dyke said his key athlete was Saqukine Cameron. "Both teams lacked the experience but I knew that Cameron would have made a big difference and she was rested for the preliminary round in both relays as I wanted her to come fresh for both finals as she is our best athlete in both events," the Edwin Allen coach said.

He added: "I also knew that the St. Jago coach was really nervous. He is yet to win an event at Penns and I could see the nervousness on him and I knew that would have been transferred to his team," said Dyke.

Dyke expects another double triumph next year with his young team.

"For our rivals it will be scary for them as I see both teams winning for at least another three years," concluded Dyke.