PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, (CMC) – Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay were palpably absent, as Jamaica beat the United States in the men’s 4×100 metres relay on Saturday as the curtain came down on the annual Penn Relays.

Former World 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell joined Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and anchor Steve Mullings to clock 38.33 seconds to prevail over the American team of Walter Dix, Wallace Spearmon, Trell Krimmons and Mike Rodgers, whose time was 38.46 secs.

Carter took command on the third leg of the race, with Mullings holding off Rodgers for the victory.

Powell ran an uncustomary lead-off position, after taking heed of a long-time suggestion made by Frater.

Jamaica’s relay line-up created an intriguing opening leg match-up with 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin returning to action at Franklin Field. His squad finished third in 38.66.

“Over the years, (Frater) has been telling me that if I lead off, it will be a totally different race,” said Powell. “I’ve always run the anchor leg. I just wanted to try something new.”

More than 180 athletes from 16 nations took part in the relays, but Jamaica’s men and America’s women shone brightest.

Kenia Sinclair anchored the Jamaica women’s sprint medley relay with a time of one minute, 57.06 seconds split on the 800m leg to seal the win in 3:34.64 – eighth hundredths-of-a-second off the World-best set by Jamaica at the 2009 Penn Relays, with Sinclair also on the anchor.

The Jamaicans took the lead on the third leg, when Olympic and World 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker ran 51.3, after opening 200 legs by Simone Facey and Kerron Stewart, to win for the fourth consecutive year.

Other highlights included Ristananna Tracey of Jamaica’s Edwin Allen earning the High School Girls Athlete-of-the-Meet for relay events.

Tracey ran a 2:03.17 anchor in the 4x800m relay for the fastest split in meet history, and a 8:39.22 clocking for the No. 2 time.  She also turned in the fastest split of 52.2 in the 4x400m relay.

At least half-dozen Caribbean countries participated in the relays. They were Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.

With over 500, the Jamaicans had easily the largest contingent of athletes and officials at the event.

After years of explorations and negotiations, the leading athletic secondary school in SVG, the Thomas Saunders Secondary School was finally able to compete in the prestigious meet for the very first time.  

Though the school was not able to make it to the final in any of the events, it won its heats in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.