Caribbean Athletes Shine At Penn Relays In USA
Published: Monday | April 30, 2007

Netherlands Antilles' world-rated sprinter Churandy Martina made a successful start in the 100-metres this season, after he ran away with the event on the final day of the Penn Relays, held at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, on Saturday, April 28th.

Martina clocked an impressive 10.09 seconds – the second fastest time in the world this year to win the event over a relatively modest field in the cool conditions in Pennsylvania.   The race was the first 100m dash in 2007 for the former University Texas at El Paso sprinter, who opted to use the opening part of this campaign to concentrate on his strength work for what is expected to be a long challenging year.   Martina raced home ahead of American World and Olympic Long Jump champion Dwight Phillips, who was a distant second in 10.37 and Rodney Martin (10.38).

Another impressive performance came from Jamaica’s young sprinter Kerron Stewart, who blazed away with the college women 100m in a time of 11.15. She got home ahead of Louisiana State’s Grenadian Sherry Fletcher (11.43) and another Jamaican Tracy Anne Rowe (11.54).   Stewart, the NCAA Indoor sprint double champion was later named College Women’s Individual Events Athlete of the meet after her 100m win, which was the No. 4 time in the meet history.

In other highlights, Louisiana State, anchored by Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson claimed the college men’s 4x100 relay over Florida State with a time of 39.73 to 39.78. On Friday, Fletcher teamed up with Jamaican Samantha Henry and Trinidadian champion Kelly Ann Baptiste to win the women’s race in 43.66.

In the High School section, St. Jago of Jamaica, led by Relays Athlete of the Meet Yohan Blake, became the first school to break 40 seconds at Penn in the 4 x 100m relay when he ran a storming anchor leg for his team to finish in 39.96.

In an event dominated by Jamaican schools - Calabar (40.24), Kingston College (41.08), defending champions Camperdown (41.08) and Jamaica College (41.16) claimed the top five places.

Blake also ran another superb anchor leg for Jago, but was unable to stop them from being beaten by Long Beach Poly in the 4 x 400m. They finished second in 3:10.43