Members of Jamaica's 4x100 metres women's team (from left) Sherone Simpson, Anneisha McLaughlin, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Kerron Stewart display their commemorative watches as they celebrate their victory over the United States at the Penn Relays, University of Pennsylvania, Franklin Field, Philadelphia, yesterday. -Collin Reid Photo courtesy of Courts and VMBS
Ryon Jones, Staff ReporterPENNSYLVANIA, USA:JAMAICA's sprint relay quartet sped to victory in the women's 4x100m, ending a nine-year drought against their United States rivals on yesterday's final day of action at the Penn Relays, held at the Franklin Field Stadium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Anchored by Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaicans beat the USA in the USA vs the World event that was witnessed by 48,871 paid spectators, the eighth largest third-day crowd in the history of the annual event.
With Sherone Simpson leading off to Kerron Stewart, then Anneisha McLaughlin, who re-placed Veronica Campbell-Brown from last year's Olympic silver medal winning team, Jamaica won in a time of 42.42 seconds.
The USA Blue team of Mandy White, Alexandria Anderson, Barbara Pierre and Porscha Lucas finished second in 42.65 seconds, while the USA Red quartet - Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Jeneba Tarmoh - the only newcomer to the team that established a [color:7612=blue !important][color:7612=blue !important]new [color:7612=blue !important]world [color:7612=blue !important]record in winning at last year's Olympics (as she replaced the injured Carmelita Jeter), had to settle for third in 42.66 seconds.
Jamaica's men's team, which featured only Nesta Carter from last year's Olympic-winning and world-record-setting quartet, placed second in the USA vs the World men's 4x100m. Carter teamed up with Dexter Lee, Rasheed and Jason Young, to get the baton around in 38.65 seconds.
The USA Red team of Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Doc Patton and Ryan Bailey won in 38.26 seconds, with USA Blue (Jeff Demps, Wallace Spearmon, Cordero Gray and Ivory Williams) third in 38.94.
Errol Nolan ran an impressive split of 44.3 seconds on Jamaica's men 4x400m team, but USA's anchor runner, Tony McQuay, held on to see the USA Red team to victory in the USA vs the World men's 4x400m.
Caribbean All-Stars team
Jamaica's team which was completed by Allodin Fothergill (46.2), Riker Hylton (45.6) and Leford Green (45.0) finished second in 3:01.15 to USA's Red (Torrin Lawrence, Manteo Mitchell, Bershawn Jackson and Tony McQuay's) 3:00.91.
Bahamas (3:02.23) were third, while a Caribbean All-Stars team comprising Felix Sanchez (46.9), Kirani James (44.1), Latoy Williams and Wesley Neymour was sixth (3:04.81).
Jamaica's women's 4x400m team of Sherika Williams (51.9), Novlene Williams-Mills (50.0), Christine Day (51.0) and Kaliese Spencer (51.2) placed third in their contest after posting 3:24.11.
The race was captured for the 12th-straight year by the USA Red as they won in 3:22.66 ahead of Great Britain (3:22.68).
ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com