Penn Relays Saturday: Chaminade, T.C. Williams, Cheltenham shine while Jamaicans dominate

by Steve Underwood


Relays: Jamaican sweep, but some U.S. teams shine

  • 7:37.36 boys’ Championship of America 4x800 by the Calabar JAM team of Norman Pittersgill (1:55.41), Alex Hutton (1:57.62), Rajay Hamilton (1:51.11) and Jorel Bellafante (1:53.24), holding off Chaminade NY at US#1 7:39.44.  The runner-ups consisted of Thomas Slattery (1:56.84), Andrew Dorritie (1:55.54), Gunnar Nolan (1:54.83) and Sean Kelly (1:52.24).  Kingston College JAM topped Blacksburg VA for 3rd, 7:42.51 to US#3 7:42.83.  It was the first 4x8 win by a Jamaican team since the last of a three year streak in 2008 and the first by Calabar since 1995.
  • 39.72 meet record boys’ Championship of America 4x100 for the Jamaica College JAM team of Waseem Williams, Tyler Mason, Keneil Patterson and Devaughn Baker, beating Wolmer’s Boys’ 2010 mark of 39.78.  It was the first 4x1 win by Jamaica College since 1995.  They nipped Calabar JAM 39.85, with St. Jago JAM 3rd 40.23, St. George’s JAM 4th 40.32 and Kingston College JAM 5th 40.35.  T.C. Williams VA was the first U.S. squad in 7th at 42.08.
  • 41.66 boys’ 4x100 for the Cheltenham PA team of Jalen Coriano-Nix, Saahir Bethea, Isaac Lewis and Christian Brissett, taking third in the Small Schools championship and earning special mention for the fastest U.S. 4x100 time of the meet (including COA final and qualifying).
  • 3:11.73 boys’ Championship of America 4x400 by the St. Jago JAM team of Ivan Henry (47.9), Martin Manley (47.7), Shamar Barnes (49.10) and Nathon Allen (47.03).  They were more than a second ahead of St. Elizabeth Tech JAM 3:13.07 and Calabar JAM 3:13.70 – despite the race-best 45.74 anchor by Calabar’s Michael O’Hara.  In 5th, T.C. Williams VA ran 3:18.19, best by any U.S. team, with soph anchor Noah Lyles splitting 46.36 (2nd best of meet) and passing three other anchors – second best leg of the race.
  • 3:15.45 boys’ 4x400 by the T.C. Williams VA team of Josephus Lyles (48.39), Phil Tyler (50.46), Malique Booth (49.13) and Noah Lyles (47.47) in morning qualifying, fastest U.S. time overall in the meet.  They won race 438 and qualified 5th overall, just ahead of DeMatha Catholic MD 3:15.60.  Four U.S. schools ran 3:16 or faster and 10 broke 3:20.
  • 3:16.99 boys’ 4x400 by the Cheltenham PA team of Isaac Lewis (49.86), Kyle Davis (50.10), Christian Brissett (48.86) and John Lewis (48.18) in the Philadelphia Area final.  They just missed making the COA 4x400, but wound up running faster than any of the three U.S. teams that did make that final.
Benjamin gets US#1 400H
  • 51.13 boys’ 400m hurdles for Jaheel Hyde (Wolmer’s Boys, JAM), defeating Marvin Williams (St. Elizabeth Tech, JAM) at 51.49.  US#1 52.72 for Rai Benjamin (Mt. Vernon, NY) in 3rd, ahead of Dave Marrington (Neshaminy, PA) at US#2 53.37.
Bryan gets three-peat; Jones over 50 in TJ
  • 50-4.5 (+1.6w) boys’ triple jump for Clayton Brown (Jamaica College, JAM), holding off Darrell Jones (Monroe-Woodbury, NY senior) US#4 (all-conditions) 50-2.5w (+2.6).  Brown took the lead on his 2nd attempt, then got his winning mark on his 3rd, with Jones also hitting his best mark in round 3.  Jones also hit a wind-legal 47-7.75(-0.7w).  Anthony Bailey (Munro College, JAM) nipped Craig AJ Stevens (Pottsville Area, PA) for 3rd, 48-0.5(1.4w) to 48-0(+1.7w), as the next six jumpers were within five inches.
  • 6-11.5 boys’ high jump for Christoffe Bryan (Wolmer’s Boys, JAM), winning his 3rd straight Penn title on his 18th birthday.  Tied for 2nd at 6-8 were Chris Stone (Springfield MontCo, PA) and Jabari Fairclough (Calabar, JAM), while Justin Sicari (Monsignor Farrell, NY) edged Tra-C Davis (Coatesville, PA) for 4th on misses as both cleared 6-6.75.  Bryan missed three times at 7-1.75 after he had the meet won.
  • 23-6.25w(+3.4) boys’ long jump by Dashawn Taylor (Longwood, NY) on his final attempt, prevailing in a tight 4-way battle.  Within a quarter-inch of each other in 2-3-4 were Michane Ricketts (Edwin Allen, JAM) at 23-5.5w(+2.4), Obrien Wasome (Jamaica College, JAM) also at 23-5.5(+0.9w) and Darius Bank (Denbigh, VA) at 23-5.25w(+3.1).  Taylor also had a legal 23.5.25(+1.9) on his first attempt to take an early lead.
  • 14-9 boys’ high jump for Brandon Stacy (Caravel, DE senior), winning on misses as five other vaulters cleared the height – but were all unable to hit the next bar at 15-1 (one vaulter passed his 2nd and 3rd tries at 15-1 to attempt 15-5, but failed).  Nick Neral (Century, MD) was 2nd and James Deutmeyer (Fordham Prep, NY) and Ryan Herrera-Murphy (Iona Prep) tied for 3rd.  Favorite Todd Uckermark (Warwick Valley, NY) no-heighted.  The last time Penn was won with 14-9 or lower was in 2000.

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