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The Penn Relays, now dubbed "USA vs. the World", is primarily about USA vs. Jamaica, at least on the final (televised) day. After dominating the sprint events for decades, Jamaican sprinters took over at the 2008 Olympics with Usain Bolt grabbing all of the attention on the men's side, and Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart sweeping the 100m medals on the women's side. In the 200m, Allyson Felix was the only American woman to squeeze in between the Jamaicans to win a (silver) medal. In the women's 4x100, botched hand exchanges left the US team out of the final altogether, but the 4x400 team won commandingly to attempt to avenge this mishap. Now, we know when we see athletes from both countries on the track, anything can happen. The US no longer dominates without question.

Or do they?

After getting off to a rough start in the sprint medley, where Kenia Sinclair's 1:57 anchor leg was just too much for USA's Alysia Johnson, and despite the thunderous crowd being overwhelmingly Jamaican, the US women took the 4x100 and 4x400 relays by blowout. 

In the 4x100, Allyson Felix blew open a lead on the second leg after Lisa Barber handed her the baton. Felix passed the stick to Lisa's sister Mikele Barber, who held strong until handing it over to Carmelita Jeter, who is too good for the Jamaicans to be able to catch from behind, even using their gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser.

photo by Image of Sport

In the 4x400, all the first three legs needed to do was make sure they handed the baton to Allyson Felix in the lead to ensure their win. They did their job well, with Debbie Dunn (member of 2009 World Champs 4x400 team for the US) handing off to Lashinda Demus (2009 silver medalist in the 400m hurdles), who handed off to Dee Dee Trotter (2007 USA Champion who has a sub-50 second PR), who passed it to Felix in the lead. Felix blew the lead open even further, giving the Jamaicans no hope of catching her at any point around the oval.

photo by Kirby Lee.

Great job ladies, you put on a great show as always! We missed Sanya Richards-Ross, who was at the meet and planned to compete, but injured her quad during a practice session, but we hope she will be back on the track again soon.

For Penn Relays results, CLICK HERE.

For race videos and interviews from Flotrack, CLICK HERE.

Track season has begun!

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