PHILADELPHIA:

THERE wasn't a single victory for Jamaican senior athletes on yesterday's final day of the United States against the World relays at the Penn Relays.

Jamaica finished second in the sprint relays, third in the men's mile and second in the women's 4x400m. The sprint medley team did not finish after a mix-up on the first change over between lead off runner Nadine Palmer and Sherone Simpson.

Novlene Williams and Kenia Sinclair were the other runners on the medley team. USA Red (3:38.89 ) event ahead of USA Blue (3:42.30).

In the men's 4x100m, the quartet of World Championships silver medallist Michael Frater, Dwight Thomas, Ainsley Waugh and Lerone Clark stopped the clock at 38.89 seconds. USA Red with Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon, Darvis Paton and Shawn Crawford won the event in 38.35.

A good performance

Still, Clark said it was a good performance from his team.

"I think we did pretty well," he said while pointing out that "it's the beginning of the season for us".

"It's the first race for most of us, so to finish second is a good start for us," he added.

The female quartet of Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Nadine Palmer, Peta-Gaye Dowdie and Aleen Bailey finished second behind USA Red in 43.55 seconds. USA Red, with Me'Lisa Barber, Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Lauryn Williams, won in 42.87.

Again, Jamaica did well and Palmer said: "I think the team did really well, especially since we did not have much time to do baton changes," said the former Jamaican junior.

"We only had one day to do baton practice and we only had time to do three hand offs, and that wouldn't make the exchange in competition excellent," she said.

In the 4x400m, Jamaica's men's team of Jermaine Gonzales, Leford Green, Sanjay Ayre and Michael Blackwood, finished third in 3: 00.44 behind USA Red (2:59.18) and USA Blue (3:00.04).

The women's quartet of Ronetta Smith, Nadia Davy, Patricia Hall and Michelle Burger finished second in 3: 29.84 behind USA Red (3:24.70).

- A.F.