Keno Haven (left) and Shantae McLean (right) attempting to console their Holmwood Technical teammates Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (second left) and Vanessa Boyd who broke down in tears after their 4x800m Championship of America defeat on last Friday's second day of the 113th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field Stadium in Philadelphia, U.S.A. - Anthony foster

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

philadelphia, usa

Still trying to get over the disappointment at the 113th Penn Relays, which ended at the Franklin Field Stadium on Saturday, Holmwood Technical High's girls returned to the island yesterday without any silverware.

The girls from Christiana started as favourites in at least two of the three relays they won last time, the 4x400m and 4x800m, but ended empty handed. They lost the 4x100m title to Edwin Allen High, a victory several track and field observers predicted.

Extremely difficult

Even Taneisha Blair, who won the girls' javelin last year, finished second this time around, giving the team its fourth second-place finish at the meet.

"It was extremely difficult," coach Maurice Wilson said last Friday. "Persons who were tougher came out victorious, the conditions really suited the Americans. Congratulations to Edwin Allen, they really had a good team and they did extremely well," he added.

Wilson said he suspected that, because of the weather, it was going to be difficult.

"I knew once it was cold we would be in problems," added the man, who guided Holmwood's girls to five straight Girls Champs victories.

He also predicted that once the times were slow, the Americans would be dangerous.

"I said to someone Friday that once the times are not fast, then you have to look at the American teams and that was what happened," he added.

Holmwood, with Andrea Reid, Anastasia Le-Roy, Blair and Schillonie Calvert, ran 3:38.49 and with Keno Haven, Calvert, Le-Roy and Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, ran 44.64 to win the 4x400m Open and Class One 4x100m, respectively, at Girls Champs and at Gibson, Vanessa Boyd, Haven, Wilkins and Susan Hall ran 9:01.70 to capture the 4x800m.

Last Friday, with Andrea Segree replacing Blair, Holmwood ran 45.00 behind Edwin Allen 44.87 while the in mile relay, Reid came in for Calvert and they finished in 3: 40.37 behind Eleanor Roosevelt (3:39.44).

Biggest disappointement

Maurice Wilson, coach of Holmwood's girls. - file

The 4x800m was considered to be the biggest disappointment and with a little more luck, they could have won. Wilkins on anchor was pipped on the line as her team finished in 8: 51.23 behind Eleanor Roosevelt (8:51.19).

In the 4x800m, Shantae McLean replaced Hall, who ran at the Gibson Relays.

"We were unlucky in the 4x800m," said Wilson, who has won 12 Penn Relays titles in 10 years.

"I think we should have won that one, but that's how it is, last year we won three, this year nothing, but life goes on and we have to prepare for next year," added Wilson, who is also the coach and a lecturer at G. C. Foster College.

"It's just part of the entire track and field scenario ... we just have to build for next year," he concluded.