Yohan Blake beats the wind and chill to take the Rovereto 100m (© Giancarlo Colombo)
Jamaican Yohan Blake and Antiguan Daniel Bailey, in the absence of triple World record holder Usain Bolt, led Racers Track Club to a world leading 4x100m Relay mark at Saturday's (12) 35th Gibson Relays held on the newly resurfaced National Stadium track in Kingston.
Bailey, the 100m fourth place at the World Championships in 2009, led off to 2006 World Junior 100m bronze medalist Remaldo Rose, who handed over to Kenroy Anderson to give Blake to take home in 38.43.
Blake, who said, "I have been working hard this season", believes running under 38.5 without Bolt, "was a very good performance."
Bailey added: "I just wanted to go out there and give my team the lead, because this is the best part of the race. We're satisfied with the time, especially since it wasn't our best team."
The time beat the previous world lead of 38.56 set by MVP’s quartet of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Ainsley Waugh and Asafa Powell.
University of Technology was second in 39.06 while the Maurice Wilson-conditioned Sprint Tech ended third in 39.23.
On the women’s side, GC Foster College, with Nickesha Beaumont, Malika Scott, Audra Segree and Sashene Gay, had things their way before crossing the line in 45.05.
In the 4x400m Relay events, Racers' men (3:05.14) and women (3:36.96) were the winners.
Meanwhile, in the high school section, Edwin Allen touted for title honours at the National Boys and Girls Championships in two weeks time, drew nil on the girls side while Jamaica College (JC) dominated the boys section.
Edwin Allen were favourites for the girls’ Class Four (Under-13) 4x100m Relay and 4x800m Relay open, but were disqualified in the former event and without top girl Ristananna Tracey, could not match Holmwood in the latter.
In the meantime, Holmwood and Vere shared the spoils with two events apiece.
Holmwood won the Class One (Under-19) 4x100m in 45.72 ahead of Edwin Allen 45.98 and Class Three (Under-15) in a record 45.77, again ahead of Edwin Allen 46.35.
Holmwood’s 4x800m victory in 8:52.33, was also achieved ahead of Edwin Allen 8:59.26.
Vere, led by the super talent of Shericka Jackson with two impressive anchor legs, took top honours in the Class Two girls’ 4x100m (Under-17), winning in 45.64 ahead of Holmwood 46.58 and the 4x400m Open in 3:36.32 ahead of Edwin Allen 3:37.33.
Herbert Morrison Technical High's girls took the 4x200m Open event in 1:39.45, making up for their mishap in the 4x100m Class One when their anchor girl Seidatha Palmer fell close to the finish line.
On the boys side, Apart from St. Elizabeth Technical and Munro College victories in the 4x100m Class One (under-19) and 4 x 400m Open with 40.37 and 3:12.77, respectively, Jamaica College (JC) won almost all the sprint relays.
In the 4x100m, JC took the Class Two (Under-16) in 41.43; Class Three (Under-14) in a record 43.38 and Class Four (Under-13) in 45.56.
Later in the 4x200m events, Herbert Morrison 1:26.07 took Class One and Kingston College (KC) managed a rare Class Four victory in 1:36.51. Jamaica College were at it again in Class Two in 1:28.34 and Class Three in 1:32.01.
JC also added the 4x800m Open in style, winning in 7:42.61.
Several visiting athletes from England and the Caribbean took part, but only B.V.I./Anguilla’s girls’ 4x200m in the junior high school section came away with a relay victory, winning in 1:46.41.
In the 100m dash, Winston Barnes with a world leading 10.17 beat Kenroy Anderson (10.18) and National champion Oshane Bailey (10.20) while 2006 World Junior Championships bronze medallist, Carrie Russell (11.44) beat 15-year-old schoolgirl and 2011 sensation, Christiana Williams (11.49) in the women’s section.
National High Jump junior record holder Kimberly Williamson, who has been the target of several US colleges since her 1.88m leap, logged the only Edwin Allen victory of the day when she cleared 1.80m.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF
