WATCH LIVE: THE PENN RELAYS
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Union Catholic (NJ) girls made a strong statement to open the Penn Relays on Thursday, with the Vikings rallying to edge Edwin Allen of Jamaica to win its heat and run the fastest time of the day on a chilly and wind swept morning at Franklin Field.
Union Catholic sophomore star Peyton Hollis, who split 2:12.53, made up a four-second deficit on the anchor and passed the Edwin Allen anchor in the final homestretch, crossing the line in first in 9:13.08.
Edwin Allen, the defending champions from 2019, was second in 9:13.89. The Jamaican squad was the second fastest team in the trials. Union Catholic and Edwin Allen will meet again in the 12-team Championship of America race, which is scheduled for Friday at 3:55 p.m.
Cuthbertson (NC) ran the third fastest qualifying time of 9:19.75, Cherokee (NJ) advanced as the fourth fastest team when it won its heat in 9:21.19, and Holmwood Tech (JAM) ran 9:23.48 to advance as the fifth-fastest qualifier.
The first three legs for Union Catholic were handled by junior Maameyaa Nyinah (2:17.89), junior Kaleigh Gunsiorowski (2:20.57) and sophomore Leilani Gibson (2:22.10).
Union Catholic, second in the 4x800 Champions of America race in 2019, understands how the race will change on Friday.
Holmwood Tech has run 8:46.96 and Edwin Allen has added a time of 8:48.57 this season, besting Union Catholic's 8:53.69, which came when it placed second at New Balance Nationals Indoor in March. Edwin Allen has won this race in the Championship of America final a total of six times.
"It was windy and cold so the times were slower, today," Gunsiorowski said. "We know we are underdogs and we know how fast they (the Jamaicans) have run, but we are confident they we can run much faster also. I feel we have a chance if we all run our best.''
Hollis said her team will be ready for the challenge.
"We all did what we had to do today, and I feel like for us to win tomorrow it will take all of our best efforts,'' Hollis said. "But I do feel like we all have a lot more in us and have shot.''
Union Catholic coach Mike McCabe was very pleased with his team performed, and said he is confident his team will rise to challenge in the final.
"The goal was go out conservative and then finish strong,'' said McCabe. "We will be prepared to run faster tomorrow, and we will need lifetime races out of all four runners and to keep it close for our anchor.''
Cherokee qualified for a C of A race for the first time in school history as Kelsey Niglio (2:18.25), Kerry O'Day (2:24.26), Megan Niglio (2:24.21) and Nicole Clifford (2:14.49).
"This is the first time any relay from our school has qualified for a C of A, so we're super excited to race against all the other great teams.,'' said Clifford. "It was super cold and windy today, so I'm so super proud of our team for sticking with it.''