Kingston College, Calabar claim Penn Relays titles

Kingston College and Calabar High recorded impressive victories in the high school boys’ 4x400m and 4x100m Championship of America finals, respectively, on Friday’s second day of the 129th Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Kingston College won a fourth-straight 4x400m to equal a century-old record, while Calabar High ran a swift 39.79 seconds to claim their first sprint relay title since 2018.

The Kingston College team of Jabulani McLeod, Markel Smith, Roshawn Lee and Marcinho Rose ran 3:05.93 minutes, the second-fastest time by a high school team at the Penn Relays. Their win equalled the record of four-straight titles set between 1907 and 1910 by Manual of Brooklyn, New York.

Kingston College’s time is the second-fastest behind Calabar High’s 3:03.79 set in 2018, and beats their previous best of 3:09.52 set in 2022.

Bullis School of Maryland, with teenaged American Olympic Games 4x400m gold medallist Quincy Wilson splitting 43.99 on anchor, was second in 3:06.31, while Calabar High took third in 3:06.52.

Excelsior High placed fourth in 3:07.98, followed by Jamaica College (3:08.06). St Elizabeth Technical were disqualified.

Earlier in the day, Calabar High showed off their speed and smooth baton changing as they won the 4x100m with the team of Jamal Stephenson, Shaquane Gordon, Dijon Swaine and Khamani Gordon holding off Washington, DC’s Archbishop John Carroll (40.04) seconds and Kingston College (40.16).

It was Calabar’s ninth 4x100m win overall, putting them in a four-way tie along with fellow Jamaican school Camperdown High for most triumphs in the event. It was also the eighth fastest time ever recorded. The Red Hills Road-based school now owns five of the top 10 and the three fastest times in the event.

Last year’s winners Excelsior High were fourth with 40.36, followed by Edwin Allen High (41.01), Jamaica College (41.04), St Elizabeth Technical (41.06) and William Knibb Memorial (41.10).

St George’s College set a record 40.64 to win the High School Boys’ 4x100m International final, breaking the 41.04 set by Excelsior High two years ago.

St Augustine’s of the Bahamas finished second with 41.19, the same time as third-placed Herbert Morrison Technical. Petersfield High (41.61) were fourth. Munro College were sixth in 42.45 and Mona High ninth in 44.20.

The High School Boys’ 4x800m Championship of America final failed to deliver any additional hardware for the Jamaicans with Kingston College in sixth place, the best placing.

Three Jamaican teams, including Calabar High and Edwin Allen High, had qualified on Friday, but were not able to challenge the top teams.

Rockhurst High of Missouri won the event with 7:33.83, just ahead of favourites St John’s College of Washington, DC (7:34.26). IMG Academy of Florida were third with 7:34.45.

Kingston College, who won in 2007, clocked 7:44.95, while four-time champions and record holders Calabar High finished 10th in 7:51.46.