The Manchester High School team prepares to depart the island for 111th Penn Relays in Philadelphia yesterday. - PHOTO BY ANTHONY FOSTER
GIRLS CHAMPS winners Holmwood Technical headed the list of schools which departed the island yesterday for 111th Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
Of the 29 Jamaicans school expected to participate in the world's biggest relay festival, Edwin Allen and Vere Technical were the only two schools to win titles last year.
Last year, Edwin Allen won the 4x800m relay while Vere Technical were triumphant in the sprint relay.
However, this year teams have suffered big losses and it looks unlikely that they will defend their titles.
If any Jamaican schools are capable to winning those events it will be Holmwood in the 4x800m and St. Jago or Holmwood in the sprint.
Holmwood's 4x800m team of Vanessa Boyd, Bobbie-Gaye Wilkins, Cassandra Powell and Celia White should be gold medal ready.
St. Jago, who departed yesterday, will have the likes of top schoolgirl sprint hurdler Natasha Ruddock, Sudian Davis and Carifta Games 200m Under-17 champion Lotaya King leading the charge.
Also seen departing yesterday were St. Hugh's with Champs shot put and discus champion Phelecia Reynolds, Alpha with Champs 400m hurdles winner Nikeisha Wilson, St. Andrew High with Anna-Kay Campbell, St. Jago's boys with Dwight Mullings and Manchester with Judith Riley, Deneisha Morris and Nester Carter.
Holmwood boys also left with very good 4x100m and 4x400m teams. They could be the surprise team of this year's event.
