Tigers run at Penn Relays

The largest track and field meet in the country, this weekend's Penn Relays, may be more aptly described as a carnival than a meet. High school runners, college runners, professional runners, potential Olympians and more than 100,000 screaming fans will be jam-packed into Franklin Field to watch the intense competition — for the 111th year.

The Relays began yesterday with the women's events and continue through Saturday.

According to senior captain Mike Kopp, the Relays "are unlike any other track meet. It's three days of nonstop races consisting of thousands of competitors from grade schoolers to world-class athletes."

Running at the Relays is an "amazing experience," women's team co-captain Jennifer Byrd '05 said. Last year, she competed in the heptathlon, which typically takes place on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the Relays officially begin. Despite a prolonged injury this season, Byrd competed Thursday in the long jump.

The Relays provide a "great atmosphere for running," according to co-captain Alexis Tingan.

The cheering crowd, by far the most massive they will perform in front of the entire season, provides incentive for the runners.

"Undoubtedly you run faster and have a better performance because the crowd is watching you. The crowd definitely pushes you along," Tingan said.

The "intensity and electricity" of the meet make it an "unforgettable experience," he added.

Senior co-captain Chanel Lattimer has attended the Relays four times — the first three as a high school runner and once as a Tiger.

"Everything's chaotic, but it's so well-organized," she said. "A lot of times it's more about the experience."

This year, the men's team will compete in the 4x400-meter and the 4x8 relays, along with several open events including the high jump, pole vault, hammer throw, discus and javelin throw.

The timing of this year's Relays is not ideal for Princeton. Lattimer, who did not attend this running of the Relays because of an academic conflict, said that because the Relays fall on the weekend before the Heptagonals, the Ivy League track championship, some runners are passing them up to rest.

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Nonetheless, the Tigers are prepared to put forth their strongest efforts of the year as the track season comes to a close. The relay teams running at the Penn Relays are particularly strong. As a result, some athletes treat the week as practice for the following weekend.

"This is a fine-tuning week. It's the end of the season where everything's coming together," Byrd said.

Since the meet is so large and incorporates teams at different levels, it is not a team-scored meet. But Princeton runners have fared quite well individually in past years, and they have high goals for this year's Relays. This year, the men's 4x4 relay team hopes to qualify for Nationals, Kopp said.

Indeed, no matter how the Tigers fare this weekend, they all hope to run their best this weekend after a season of hard work. After all, as much as they're racing against thousands of the best runners in the country, they're also racing against themselves.

"It's not about winning or losing, [but instead] running against all the best schools in the country," Tingan said. "What's important is not your place, but your time."