Edwin Allen’s Super Relay Team Strikes Again

Edwin Allen High (light blue) was the last to complete the first exchange at Central Champs.

Jamaica’s Edwin Allen High School’s Class Two sprint relay quartet of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall, and Tia Clayton yesterday ran the fastest time on Jamaican soil by any high school girls sprint relay team.

The super squad of three 15-years-olds in twins Tia and Tina, and Serena Cole and 16-year-old Brandy Hall not only erased the Gibson-McCook Relays meet record of 44.75secs set by them last year with a stunning 43.73, but they also lowered their 43.80secs record run two weeks ago at the February 19 Jamaica Central Championships for high schools.

In continuing their unmatched performance leading up to the Jamaica Boys and Girls Athletics Championships later this month, Serena, Tina, Brandy, and Tia, running in that order, did not make the baton pass mistakes that slowed the first exchange at Central Champs.

After another strong lead-off leg and smooth exchange, Tina, an 11.27 sprinter in 2019 with an 11.29 (+1.1 mps) 2020 season best, quickly motored away down the back stretch to open the lead and hand over to Hall, who extended that lead to Tia. The flying anchor girl did not hesitate to hustle even farther away from the field for the new record.

Holmwood Technical High finished second in 45.17 with third place going to St Jago High in 45.78. Rounding out the field were Hydel High, 45.81; Immaculate Conception High, 47.58; The Queens School, 48.10; St. Andrew High, 48.15; and Manchester High 48.44.

Edwin Allen’s 43.73 was the second fastest ever time by an Edwin Allen quartet after their 2019 Penn Relays record of 43.62, when three members of the current team, the Clayton twins and Cole, teamed up with the older Kevona Davis.

The world Under-20 record of 43.27 set at the 2017 European Championships is held by 18- and 19-year-old Germans. See Meet Results