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Calabar of Jamaica Produces All-Time Relay Double - 2017 Penn Relays

Published by
DyeStat.com   Apr 30th 2017, 12:03am
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Jamaica's Calabar crushes HS records in the 4x100, 4x400

Programming Note: Miss anything at Penn Relays? Watch on-demand videos of the 123rd Penn Relays Carnival on usatf.tv with a RunnerSpace +Plus account

By Jim Lambert for DyeStat

PHILADELPHIA - Calabar flashed devastating speed Saturday at Franklin Field, and the Jamaican powerhouse reduced two meets records to rubble with the greatest high school boys sprint relay double in the 123-year history of the Penn Relays.

Competing in front of a huge pro-Jamaican crowd, Calabar gave its supporters a showcase they came to see by taking down the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay records in jaw-dropping and mind-boggling fashion in front of 47,420 fans. 

In the 4x100 Championship of America race, an all-sophomore quartet burned a 39.00 to destroy the meet record of 39.63, which it ran in 2015 and was matched last year by Jamaican rival Kingston College.

Three hours and 45 minutes later, Calabar returned to the track for the 4x400 C of A race and exploded again with 3:08.59 to take down the 20-year-old meet mark of 3:08.72 set in 2008 by John Muir of Pasadena, Calif., which was anchored by the legendary Obea Moore. Calabar, which won the 4x100 and 4x400 in 2015, has a meet record eight 4x400 C of A titles.

Edwin Allen of Jamaica was second in 3:10.09, No. 8 in meet history, and New Balance National Indoor champion East Orange of N.J. was fifth overall and first among U.S. teams in 3:14.35.       

Christopher Taylor, the only Calabar sprinter to run on both relays, ran the second leg on the 4x100 and then split 46.13 on the anchor of the 4x400. He was chosen as the boys Athlete of the Meet for relay events.

“We wanted wanted to do something that no one would ever forget,’’ Taylor said. “We knew we could get the records, but that 39.00 was way faster when we thought.’’

Of the seven sprinters that ran on the two relays for Calabar, only one is graduating this year.  

“When we come back next year, we can go even faster,’’ Taylor said.   

East Orange, which ran 3:13.92 in the trials earlier in the day, was thrilled with being the the top U.S. team.

“We knew the Jamaican teams would be way out there,’’ said Cory Poole, who anchored in 46.83. “So our goal was to run as fast we could and be the top U.S. team. We got what we wanted.’’

Poole’s big anchor carry capped off a remarkable day for the University of Florida-bound star.

Earlier in the day, Poole won the 400 hurdles in a US#1 50.71, a huge PR and the third-best performance in Penn Relays history.

“It was the best day I’ve ever had,’’ Poole said. “Something I’ll never forget.’’



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