Confident Immaculate team to compete in 4x100m at Penns

AFTER AN encouraging performance at the recent ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships where they finished in the top 10 among the girls' teams, a very confident Immaculate Conception High team left the island yesterday to participate in this weekend's Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Immaculate's quartet of Essence Burbridge, Onanda Lowe, Shevian Simms and Daynea Creary will contest the Championships of America 4x100 metres relay, while Juliet Smith will compete in the shot put and Maja Henry is down for the discus throw.

Immaculate placed fifth in the Championships of America 4x100m last year and head coach Franz Forde is hoping to be in the big final once again.

"Our objective is to reach the Championships of America 4x100m final but if we do not we are hoping to at least do so in the international final," said Forde. The international final is a consolation event for teams who did not advance to the Championships of America final. Immaculate won this consolation event in 2019 and took home a plaque.

Forde said he is also expecting his throwers to do very well.

"Both Maja and Juliet did well in their respective events at Champs where Juliet was third and Maja sixth and I expect both to be at least in the top five of their respective events," Forde said. Last year Henry was ninth in the discus while Smith ended 11th in the shot put.

Assistant coach Floyd Quarrie is also with the team and Forde thanked those who have helped to facilitate Immaculate's participation at the Penn Relays.

"I must say a big thank you to the sponsors along with the principal and the parents who all made the trip possible. Our parents are really great supporters," Forde said.