Chasing history ... Calabar hunting records at Penns
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania:
WHEN competition on today’s second day of the 124th staging of the Penn Relays gets under way at Franklin Field, all eyes will certainly be on history-seeking Calabar as the high school boys take centre stage.
After impressive performances last year, when they won the 4x100 and 4x400 metre relays in record times, Calabar will be hoping to retain those titles, and in addition, add the 4x800-metre event, with a Championships of America hat-trick very much on the cards.
Assistant coach Omar Hawes is expecting his team to do something special after their dominating form all season.
“Preparations have gone well going into Penns, and the injury concerns we had coming out of Champs are back to normal. The athletes have trained well, and based on what I have seen, they should easily retain both titles, and we are hoping to add another to the list,” said Hawes.
MICHAEL STEPHENS MISSING
“Michael Stephens will be absent from the team, that broke the 4x100-metre record last year after a smashing 39.00 seconds, but quarter-miler Anthony Carpenter, who missed the 4x400m final at Champs, is back to full fitness, which is a plus for the team.We will be without Michael in the 4x100 metres, but we ran 39.17 at Champs without him, so if they pass the baton smoothly around like they did at Champs and the weather permits, who knows, we can go much faster than last year,” said Hawes.
Rosean Young will replace Stephens and will team up with Carpenter, De’Jour Russell, and Tyreke Wilson.
When asked about the 4x400-metre team, which set a high school record of 3:05.04 at the Digicel Grand Prix final, Hawes stated: “I think from what we have seen in training, we can repeat or even go faster, but again, it depends on the weather. It must be remembered that Carpenter did not run at Champs, where they broke the record before the team was disqualified, and Carpenter is back at his best.”