Asafa Powell

JAMAICANS living in North America are expected to converge in their thousands on Franklin Field, Pennsylvania, April 23-25, for the 115th staging of the Penn Relays.

One of the most popular meets in the United States, this Relay Carnival is like a reunion for thousands of Jamaicans living in America as they travel from near and far to witness Jamaican high-school athletes battle their US rivals.

It is expected that this year's staging will be big as several athletes who participated at the Beijing Games last year will be on show.

Billed as the United States vs the World in a series of relays on the final day, this time around, it could easily read, Jamaica vs the World as Jamaica's sprinters showed in Beijing that they are the best in the world following some outstanding performances from the likes of Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Melaine Walker and the men's 4x100 metres team.

Dominant performances

As usual the likes of Calabar High and St Jago High among the boys and Holmwood Technical, Edwin Allen High, Manchester High and Vere Technical among the girls are expected to put on dominant performances.

A lot of support will be there for the senior athletes as the Jamaicans are expected to continue their dominance, while the US will be hoping to exact some revenge following their battering in Beijing.

Although the fastest man in the world, Bolt, will not be competing, the Jamaicans should still dominate their counterparts in the 4x100m as three different Jamaican teams have gone sub-39 seconds this season. Chances are that three members of the world-record breaking 4x100 metres team in Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell could join forces with Marvin Anderson as the Jamaicans seek to make it two in a row following their first victory in this event last year.

Women's 4x100 metres

Jamaica should also win the women's 4x100 metres as although the likes of Campbell-Brown and Sherone Simpson are not expected to compete, we could see a revitalised Aleen Bailey, following her 11.17 clocking a week ago in the 100 metres, Kerron Stewart and now professional athlete Simone Facey join forces in a bid to turn back the US.

Led by Olympic 400-metre silver medallist Shericka Williams, Novlene Williams-Mills, 400-metre hurdles champion Melaine Walker and Nickeisha Wilson, Jamaica's female team could upstage the United States in the 4x400m.

Although the weather as usual should be very cold in Franklin Field, the thousands of supporters expected in the stands should be kept warm by some fierce battles in what should be a preview of what is to come in the August 15-23 IAAF World Championships in Berlin.