US-Jamaica rivalry to dominate Penn Relays

Men and women will compete in 4x100M and 4x400M relays with women also in a sprint medley relay and men contesting a distance medley relay. More than 180 athletes from 16 nations also will compete including lineups from Australia, Canada, Kenya, Morocco, Brazil and Britain.

While Usain Bolt will not be on hand to try and beat his 8.79-second anchor leg from 2010, Jamaica will have 100M stars Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and Steve Mullings, who owns the season’s best time in 9.90 seconds.

They face an American lineup that includes five of last year’s top 10 at the distance, including 2011 US pace-setters Ivory Williams and Mike Rodgers, reigning US 100M champion Walter Dix and 200M champion Wallace Spearmon plus Darvis Patton and Shawn Crawford.

Two-time world champion and Olympic runner-up Kerron Clement, two-time US runner-up Johnny Dutch, Kansas Relays winner Bershawn Jackson and fellow hurdles veteran Angelo Taylor lead a US bid for an 11th 400M title in 12 tries.

Kenya and the World All-Stars have won every distance medley relay since the event began in 2006 and the American bid to end the drought will be tested by Australia, Kenya, Canada and first-time meet competitor Ethiopia.