Sprint Relays
Boys 4x400m
National High School Record: 3:07.40, Hawthorne High School, California, 1985 (Michael Graham 48.1, Mike Marsh 47.7, Sean Kelly 47.1, Henry Thomas 44.5)
Penn Relays Record: 3:08.72, John Muir High School, California, 1997 (Jucorie Tyron 48.0, Shaheed McCullough 49.8, Sultan McCullough 45.8, Obea Moore 45.1)
2015 Champion: 3:09.97, Calabar, Jamaica (Anthony Carpenter 50.4, Aykeeme Francis 46.3, Renado Wilson 46.57, Michael O'Hara 46.68)
Watch live: 5:30 PM Saturday (final)
The FAVORITES: Calabar (JAM), Kingston College (JAM)
The CHALLENGER: T.C. Williams (VA)
Why We're Excited: Jamaican rivals Calabar and Kingston College put on a show at March's ISSA Boys & Girls Champs. Both teams have an all-star anchor in Christopher Taylor (Calabar, Age 16 World Record holder for 400m in 45.69) and Akeem Bloomfield (KC, Jamaican National Junior Record holder for 400m in 44.93). All that star power equalled one of the most stirring 4x4 finishes in history, as the duo split 45. and 44.5, respectively, at Champs. Taylor and Calabar came out on top, 3:09.77 to 3:10.26, but the results could easily go either way.
T.C. Williams High of Virginia will likely be the top American squad again -- they were fourth last year in 3:13 -- but they don't want that distinction for 2016. The Lyles brothers -- Noah and Josephus, who split 45.4 and 46.22 last year -- want the penny for their senior year.
Girls 4x400m
National High School Record: 3:35.49, Long Beach Poly High School, California, 2004 (Shana Woods 55.7, DeShanta Harris 55.6, Jasmine Lee 52.6, Shalonda Solomon 51.6)
Penn Relays Record: 3:34.75, Holmwood Tech, Jamaica, 2001 (Kerri Ann White 55.8, Kareen Gayle 53.3, Anneisha McLaughlin 53.8, Sheryl Morgan 51.9)
2015 Champion: 3:40.41, Edwin Allen, Jamaica
Watch live: 4:20 PM Friday
The FAVORITE: Saint Elizabeth Technical (JAM)
The CHALLENGER: Union Catholic (NJ)
Why We're Excited: There could be fireworks on this anchor leg comparable to the boys' Bloomfield vs. Taylor battle, if Union Catholic is able to keep things close to St. Elizabeth. The Jamaican school enters with a seed time of 3:33.15 and while the New Jersey-based Union Catholic ran 3:36 last year -- just one second off the national record -- that was in warm conditions in June at New Balance Nationals. The quartet does have a 3:40 credit to their name in 2016 -- thanks to a win at the indoor nationals -- and that's the time it took to win Penn last year.
But back to that anchor. IF things stay close, it's ISSA Champs 400m champion Jurnelle Bromfield (51.7 open PR) vs. UC's Sydney McLaughlin, who ran 51.84 to set the national high school record for the indoor 400m and split 51.64 on the mile relay. Fire.
Boys 4x100m
National High School Record: 39.76, Wyatt High School, Texas, 1998 (Milton Wesley, Monte Clopton, Michael Franklin, DeMario Wesley)
Penn Relays Record: 39.63, Calabar, Jamaica, 2015 (Zandre Blake, Michael O'Hara, Jullane Walker, Seanie Selvin)
2015 Champion: 39.63, Calabar, Jamaica (Zandre Blake, Michael O'Hara, Jullane Walker, Seanie Selvin)
Watch live: 1:50 PM Saturday
The FAVORITE: Kingston College (JAM)
The CHALLENGERS: Calabar (JAM), Jamaica College (JAM), T.C. Williams (VA)
Why We're Excited: A new Penn Relays record is very possible. The big three of Kingston College, Calabar and Jamaica College have all raced under 40 seconds this year, a feat that only two U.S. high schools have ever accomplished. Kingston College won the ISSA Boys & Girls Champs in March, plus recently clocked a school record of 39.52. Calabar loses Michael O'Hara from last year's record-setting squad, though they add star Christopher Taylor.
T.C. Williams was the top American squad last year in fifth with a time of 40.84; brothers Noah and Josephus want to improve on that finish for their senior year.
Girls 4x100m
National High School Record: 44.50, Long Beach Poly High School, California, 2004 (Shana Solomon, Jasmine Lee, Chanda Picott, Shalonda Solomon)
Penn Relays Record: 44.32, Vere Tech, Jamaica, 2004 (Indira Spence, Maris Wisdom, Shameter Stewart, Simone Facey)
2015 Champion: 45.40, Edwin Allen, Jamaica (Aaliyah Hopkins, Patrice Moody, Saqukine Cameron, Shellece Clark)
Watch live: 2:25 PM Friday
The FAVORITES: Edwin Allen (JAM), Holmwood Tech (JAM)
The CHALLENGERS: St. Catherine (JAM), Nansemond River (VA)
Why We're Excited: Could an American squad sneak into the top spot? The Jamaican squads are tough this time of year, but crazy things happen at Penn. Nansemond River of Virginia won the Large Schools 4x100m Championship and looks like the best home-grown hope to take home the Championship of America title with World Youth Championships medalist and recent Florida Gators recruit Brandeé Johnson at the helm.