CaribWorldNews, PHILADELPHIA, PA, Fri. April 23, 2010: The Caribbean is pulling out the big guns as it goes up against the U.S.` top athletes at the Penn Relays this weekend as thousands of Jamaican and other CARICOM fans of athletics prepare to descend on the Franklin Field.

Of course the much-talked about and highly anticipated performance is expected from the world`s fastest man, Usain St. Leo Bolt. But Team Jamaica is set to field a top of the line team for its clash with the U.S.

As of Thursday, the Jamaica Men`s 4x100 relay team, is set to take the track of Franklin Field at 2:50 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 24th. Jamaica will field two teams – Jamaica Black and Jamaica Yellow against the US` Blue and Red teams.

The Jamaican relay team will include Bolt, Asafa Powell, Marvin Anderson, Kenroy Anderson, Yohan Blake, Xavier Brown, Nesta Carter, Mario Forsythe, Michael Frater and Dwight Thomas.

Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas are also the other Caribbean nations set to face-off in this race. The T&T team is set to include Richard Thompson, Aaron Armstrong, Keston Bledman, Darrel Brown and Emmanuel Callendar while Bahamas` line-up could include  Jonathan Davis, Rodney Greene, Adrian Griffith, Jamial Rolle and Brunell McKenzie.

In the women`s 4x100 at 2:30 p.m. EST Saturday, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts will face-off against the U.S. and Germany. The Bahamas team is set to include Rashan Brown, Shaketa Henfield, Jernise Saunders, Katarina Smith and Tavannia Thompson while Jamaica`s team could come from Shillonie Calvert, Simone Facey, Shelly Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart. T&T`s team is set to include Ayanna Hutchinson, Michelle Lee-Ahye, Josanne Lucas, Sasha Springer and Reyare Thomas.

In the 4x400 men`s relays at 4:55 p.m., the Caribbean will see the participation of the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

The Bahamas` Men`s 4x400 will include Chris Brown, Ramon Miller, Nathaniel McKinney and Andre Williams while the DR`s team could come from Gustavo Cuesta, Alvin Harrison, Kelvin Herrera, Arismendy Peguero, Tayron Reyes and Yoel Tapia.

Jamaica`s 4x400 men`s team is set to include Dwayne Barrett, Ricardo Chambers, Jermaine Gonzales and Edino Steele while T&T`s may include Melissa De Leon, Jessica James, Sparkle McKnight, Josanne Lucas and Sasha Springer.

In the women`s 4x400 at 5:10 p.m., Caribbean nations Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Bahamas will be represented. The Bahamas side may include Shaketa Henfield, Sasha Roll and Crystal Strachan while Jamaica women`s team may come from Davita Prendergast, Rosemarie Whyte, Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills.

In the USA vs. the World Women Sprint Medley, the Bahamas and Jamaica will represent the Caribbean. The Bahamas` Katrina Seymour will run in that race while Kenia Sinclair will represent Jamaica.

OPENING DAY

Meanwhile, yesterday, Edwin Allen was the top Jamaican High School, at the Thursday morning`s opening session of the 116th Penn Relays, at the Franklin field Stadium.

Despite losing the 400-m hurdles open with Ristananna Tracey (59.42), who was second, the  school leads the way in the 4×800-m and 4×100-m relays.

In the 4×800-m, Edwin Allen`s Sharlene Nickle (2:15.7), Desreen Montague (2:15.3), Carla Thompson (2:17.1) and Mackola Joseph (2:13.2) ran the day`s fastest time of 9:01.34

Holmwood won heat two of the small schools heat in 9:03.89. Shantea McLean (2:17.5), Lovan Palmer (2:14.0), Monique Thompson (2:15.9) and Petrene Plummer (2:16.5) made up the team. Edwin Allen, in the Large School section, ran 46.21 to beat Long Beach Poly (46.77) to go into Friday`s final as the fastest time.

In the 4×100-m small schools heats, The Queen`s School (46.31), Holmwood (46.34), Herbert Morrison (46.59) and Manchester (46.95) all qualified for the big final while Camperdown ran 47.66.

TEAM JAMAICA BICKLE

Officials of Team Jamaica Bickle, opened their tents on Wednesday as they began feeding and housing Jamaican and Trinidadian athletes participating at the relays. The Bickle volunteers are hard at work, despite a drop in sponsorship and donations this year, near the Blue Bridge outside the stadium of the Franklin Field. To donate to TJB log on to http://www.teamjamaicabickle.com/ and click on the donate button.