Jamaica College became the eighth team in history to win a third High School Boys 4x800 Championship of America at the Penn Relays presented by Toyota, and it came with a dramatic come-from-behind performance Saturday at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Kemarrio Bygrave, the anchor for Jamaica College, closed a significant gap on his final lap to secure the win, as it was Christian Brother High School of Memphis, Tennessee, and St. John’s College from Washington, D.C., setting the pace for much of the race.

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It looked as if Christian Brothers anchor Kaleb Smith was going to cruise to the win for his team and give the school its first victory at the Penn Relays, but he ran out of gas after the final turn and eventually fell just a few feet before finish line.

The winning team included Nellie Ambriton, Samuel Creary, Rasheed Pryce and Bygrave, who took the title with a time of 7:42.37. St. John’s College was second (7:44.66), Central Bucks West of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was third (7:45.99) and Christian Brothers finished fourth (7:47.30).

Jamaica College previously won the 4x800 in 1999 and 2022, with Bygrave also part of the winning effort in 2022.

Jamaica’s Kingston College also was looking for a bit of history (and redemption) Friday, after falling just short of taking the title in 2023. 

Kingston College was edged at the line in 2023 by New Jersey’s Chatham High School (7:47.66-7:47.68) but came up short again in 2024, this time finishing sixth (7:49.65).

Saturday’s 4x800 Championship of America included the 12 fastest from across all of Friday’s qualifying squads. Jamaica College qualified first with a time of 7:45.38.

The 2024 Penn Relays is the 128th edition of the event, which first was held in 1895. It now welcomes more than 15,000 athletes of all ages and skill levels (high school, college, Special Olympics, professional/elite and Masters).

Watch Jamaica College Win HS 4x800 Championship Of America At 2024 Penn Relays

Jamaica College anchor Kemarrio Bygrave used a final-lap surge to bring his team its third win in the 4x800 relay at the famed Penn Relays.

CHAOTIC finish to the Championship of American boys 4x800m

Jamaica College takes the win in the closing meters in 7:42.66 🇯🇲#PennRelays | @pennrelays pic.twitter.com/iBdRBwJ2BD

— MileSplit US (@milesplit) April 27, 2024

Top Finishers In The High School Boys 4x800m Championship Of America

1. Jamaica College (JAM) (Nellie Ambriton, Samuel Creary, Rasheed Pryce, Kemarrio Bygrave) - 7:42.37
2. St. John’s College (DC) (Paul Robinson, Karil Arnold, Finley Tobin, Keenan Frisby) - 7:44.66
3. Central Bucks West (PA) (Richard Newell, Nathan Terry, Ben Fuhrmeister, Nate Fehrman) - 7:45.99
4. Christian Brothers (TN) (Chaz Jones, Joe Edwards, Noah Mullenix, Kaleb Smith) - 7:47.30
5. Council Rock North (PA) (Lucas Poliseno, Jayden Neels, Andrew Young, Joe Crowne) - 7:47.38 

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