RAYMOND GRAHAM, Star Writer

It was a great start for Jamaican athletes on yesterday's opening day of the 115th Penn Relays in Franklinfield, Pennsylvania, as St Elizabeth Technical's Peta-Gaye Reid, teammate Rochelle Farquharson and Edwin Allen's Nikita Tracey all registered wins.

Tracey, the Boys and Girls' Champs and Carifta 400 metres hurdles champion, continued her impressive season by taking the girls 400 metres hurdles event in the first high school final of the day. Tracey won in 57.44 seconds with Wolmer's Danielle Dowie finishing second in 59.61. Tracy was very pleased with the win.

"I am happy to win a Championships event in my final year at Penns, and I am looking forward to the 4x400 and 4x800 metre finals," she said.

two in a row

Following her victory last year, Reid made it two in a row as she equalled her personal best of 1.80 metres to win the girls' high jump.

"This victory is sweeter than last year as I was able to equal my career best," said Reid who won at Carifta, leaping the same height one week ago.

Her teammate made it a good day for St Elizabeth Technical as Farquharson, who broke the Under-17 triple jump record at Carifta, won with an effort of 12.54 metres.

St Hugh's Micarah Vassell had a second-place finish in the girls' shot put with a heave of 13.28 metres, Vere Technical's Shaneika Thomas was third in the triple jump with 12.17 metres, and Wolmer's Jhanell Facey finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 5.72 metres. Defending champion Tynita Butts of T.C. Williams won with a jump of 6.07 metres.