Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterPhiladelphia, Pa: -
IF SOME of the Jamaican High School Girls look a little leg weary on tomorrow's start of the 109th Penn Relays Carnival at University of Pennsylvania, Franklin Field, they may have all right to be after a hectic travel schedule.
A number of the Jamaicans who took part in the 36th CARIFTA Games which ended in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday night, headed to chilly Philadelphia after a brief stop over in Jamaica yesterday.
When the Jamaican team arrived in Kingston yesterday and a number of the athletes switched planes and headed for the United States after a brief delay, most of the athletes did not have enough time to even get a change of clothing.
The late observation of Easter this year, the weekend when the CARIFTA Games is traditionally held, came a week ahead of the Penn Relays that is also normally held the final weekend of April.
A number of the girls who will take part in five track and four field events also took part in the CARIFTA Games.
Most of the girls events will be held on tomorrow's first day including the 400m hurdles, the 4x800m, 4x100m, 4x400 and the Distance medley events along with the long and triple jumps, high jump and shot putt.
The boys will get a breather as their competition is set to begin on Friday.
Holmwood Technical's Sheryl Morgan is not expected to be bothered by the hectic travel schedule and will start favourite to win the 400m hurdles ahead of the top American Tiffany Abney of Merion Mercy of Philadelphia.
Morgan, who completed her junior eligibility at the IAAF World Junior Championships last year, has a season best of 58.20m.
If her late entry is accepted, newly crowned CARIFTA champion and record holder Camille Robinson could be the 'darkhorse' after a brilliant 56.61 in Trinidad last week.
The weather has traditionally been the Jamaicans' biggest opponent and on Thursday morning it is expected to be in the mid-40 degrees.
Edwin Allen will start favourites to win their first ever Championships of Americas title in the 4x800m, while St. Jago and Holmwood should battle the Americans for the 4x400m and 4x100 crowns.
