PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, CMC – Jamaica upset the United States in the men’s main attraction while the women’s side was forced into second spot in the corresponding event on the final day of the Penn Relays here yesterday.
Running in the USA vs the World Men sprint relay, the Jamaican side of Jermaine Hamilton, Julian Forte, Rasheed Dwyer and Oshane Bailey clocked 38.70 seconds to cross the line first.
The USA Blue team, comprising Sean McLean, Wallace Spearmon, Calesio Newman and Remontay McClain, finished second in 39.02 seconds.
St Kitts and Nevis, with the impressive Jason Rogers and Antoine Adams in the line-up, clinched third in 39.49s.
“Beating the USA, you know, they are our main rivals. So this is a good sign for this time of the year, and we can only get stronger,” Forte said afterward.
The highly favoured USA Red team, boasting the marquee duo of Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, crossed the line fourth in 39.74 but were eventually disqualified for an illegal exchange on the final hand-over.
In the women’s event, the USA Red team of Tianna Bartoletta, Candyce McGrone, Kimberlyn Duncan and Carmelita Jeter, raced to 42.61 seconds in nabbing first place.
Jamaica, spearheaded by reigning World and Olympic sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, finished second in 42.90 while Trinidad and Tobago, with Kelly Ann Baptiste on board, was third in 43.43.
The British Virgin Islands, led by veteran Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, were sixth in 44.97 while St Kitts and Nevis finished last in 45.75.