A looming showdown on the track between the USA and the world – more like the USA and Jamaica for the most part – will be played out between 12:38 and 2:52 p.m. on Saturday (30th) at the 122nd Penn Relays Carnival being held at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
The proverbial David and Goliath are expected to clash in several events, one of which should feature Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and USA’s Carmelita Jeter on anchor.
In a bid to avenge their defeat by Jamaica last year in two of three women’s relays (4x100m and 4x400m), the US has named a strong pool of eight from which they could field two sprint relay teams, namely USA Red and USA Blue.
The eight are: Carmelita Jeter, Tianna Bartoletta, Kim Duncan, Dezerea Bryant, Kaylin Whitney, Candyce McGrone, Cambrya Jones, and Miki Barber. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s quartet will be made up of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson, Kerron Stewart and the lesser-known Audra Segree.
The USA mile relay team will come from Phyllis Francis, Natasha Hastings, Sanya Richards Ross, DeeDee Trotter, and Kendra Chambers. They will go up against Jamaica’s team to be picked from Christine Day, Stephenie Ann McPherson, Verone Chambers, Dawnalee Loney and junior Tiffanny James.
The USA men’s 4×1 team, which defeated Jamaica last year, will be strong as usual, and is set return three of four members of the 2015 finals team who ran 38.68. However, in the absence of the Bahamas in the 4×4, the USA should expect Trinidad and Tobago to mount a fierce challenge. The Bahamas, a formidable rival in the elite men’s mile relay, will not be competing in the USA vs. the World for the first time since the inception of the segment.
According to the Nassau Guardian newspaper, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations said it was “not in the best interest of the country, and impossible, to field an adequate team due to the unavailability [of] some Bahamian athletes and the recovery of others from injury.”
However, a number of Bahamian high school and college athletes will be competing.
Incidentally, the US roster includes veteran Jeremy Wariner and some relatively new names. Jamaica, meanwhile, has Rusheen McDonald, Javon Francis, Nathon Allen and Ricardo Chambers in its line-up.
USA’s Pool
4×1 Men: Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Isiah Young, Remontay McClain, Wallace Spearmon, Calesio Newman, and Sean McLean.
4×4 Men: Elvyonn Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Brycen Spratling, Bryshon Nellum, Chris Giesting, Pat Feeney, Jeremy Wariner, Mike Berry.
Women’s 4×1: Tianna Bartoletta, Kim Duncan, Carmelita Jeter, Dezerea Bryant, Kaylin Whitney, Candyce McGrone, Cambrya Jones, Miki Barber.
4×4 Women: Phyllis Francis, Natasha Hastings, Sanya Richards Ross, DeeDee Trotter, and Kendra Chambers.
Both their men’s and women’s 4x200m teams will be composed of athletes from the 4x100m relay pool.
Other Jamaican team members are:
Men’s 4×1: Oshane Bailey, Jermaine Hamilton, Dwight Jones, and Julian Forte.
Women’s 4×2: Gayon Evans, Anastacia Leroy, and Anneisha McLaughlin.
Men’s 4×2: Jermaine Hamilton, Dwight Jones, Jason Livermore, and Jonia McDonald.
Here is the USA vs. the World schedule of events for Saturday afternoon: Men 4x100m, 12:38p.m.; Women 4x100m, 12:50p.m.; Men 4x200m, 2:00p.m.; Women 4x200m, 2:10p.m.; Women 4x400m 2:35p.m.; Men 4x400m, 2:52p.m.