Francis sisters, Harris look to lead Philadelphia Force to another coed crown

Addition of mixed 4x400 relay at TrackTown Summer Series last year led to event being part of this year’s IAAF World Relays schedule

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The TrackTown Summer Series generated a buzz last year when the inaugural event at Hayward Field concluded with a mixed 4x400-meter relay.

So much so the race was part of the IAAF World Relays schedule in April, with the Bahamas – including Olympic women’s 400-meter champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo – winning in 3 minutes, 14.42 seconds, ahead of the United States in 3:17.29.

The second annual TrackTown Summer Series finale will again conclude Thursday with the mixed 4x400 at Icahn Stadium in New York, and the overall team championship could be hanging in the balance.

The Philadelphia Force won last year’s mixed 4x400 in 3:13.20, anchored by Phyllis Francis. James Harris, Kyle Clemons and Claudia Francis, Phyllis’ sister, also competed on the relay, which held off the New York Empire quartet of Chris Giesting, Vernon Norwood, Kendall Baisden and Novlene Williams-Mills in 3:13.99.

Philadelphia returns the Francis sisters and Harris, with Aldrich Bailey scheduled to replace Clemons in the lineup as the men run the first and third legs, with the women on the second and anchor legs.

Only Baisden returns for New York, teaming with Winston George, Marcus Chambers and Daina Harper.

The defending team champion San Francisco Surge has Chidi Okezie, Brycen Spratling, Robin Reynolds and Madeline Kopp, with the Portland Pulse scheduling to run Paul Dedewo, Dontavius Wright, Elexis Guster and Carly Muscaro.

Already there has been mixed hammer throw and shot put competitions at the first two Summer Series meets at Stanford and Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon.

The combined totals of Gwen Berry and Colin Dunbar-Hatton won the mixed hammer for Portland at the San Francisco meet June 29 at Stanford. Michelle Carter and Ryan Whiting prevailed for Philadelphia in the mixed shot put July 2 at the Portland event.

The TrackTown Summer Series finale is scheduled to air Thursday from 8-10 p.m. EDT on ESPN.