Jamaica’s boys chase redemption in 4x800m

AFTER being shut out last year for the second time in four years by their United States counterparts, Jamaican high school boys' teams will be hoping for redemption in the Championships of America High School Boys' 4x800m relay at next week's 130th staging of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Kingston College (KC), winners in 2007, were the best-placed Jamaican team last year after finishing sixth, with Calabar 10th and Edwin Allen 11th. All three teams, along with Jamaica College (JC), will be challenging the Americans once again.

The American charge will be led by defending champions Rockhurst High out of Missouri, who won for the first time, with St John's College and IMG Academy closing out the top three spots.

After their Gibson McCook Relays triumph, in 7:38.95, over Edwin Allen (7:41.06) and JC (7:43.75), the North Street-based KC team, led by Christopher Anderson and Nshashan Ruto, will be eyeing the top spot.

The last Jamaican team to win the event was JC in 2024. The three-time champions, with a solid quartet including Samuel Creary, Carlos Brison Caines, Rasheed Pryce and Shemar Green, will be primed for the occasion after their school won the Mortimer Geddes trophy. They will go into the championships with confidence and could go all the way.

After a brilliant anchor leg from Joel Morgan at Gibson McCook Relays, where his team finished second in 7:41.06 behind winners KC, the Edwin Allen team, which will also include Malike Anderson and Moses Johnson, cannot be taken lightly and could steal the show as Jamaica looks to reclaim glory in the event.

- Raymond Graham