Senior mid-distance runner Liz Costello calls the atmosphere at Penn Relays “electric,” and senior thrower George Abyad agrees. The Penn Relays are “like no other meet,” he said. This weekend the men’s and women’s track teams will compete in their sport’s oldest and most prestigious relay meet: the Penn Relays. Despite the name, the Penn Relays will play host to a whole spectrum of track and field events, and Princeton runners, jumpers and throwers alike are set to compete this weekend in Philadelphia.
The relays will be emphasized on the track, though, as the Penn Relays is the only event in the year that runs such a wide range of relay distances. Princeton is fielding teams in the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m, 4x1,500m and 4xMile and in distance and sprint medley relays. The winning relay teams bring home a coveted carnival wheel of bronze and wood — an apt award for a track and field event more like a carnival than a meet.
Sophomore distance runner Tyler King attributes much of the meet’s electrifying atmosphere to the crowd.
“As track athletes, the opportunity to compete in front of over 50,000 screaming fans and to be on ESPN is something we really only get at Penn," King said.
This year the atmosphere may be turned up a notch with Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m, set to compete alongside thousands of other athletes, including middle school students, high school athletes, collegiate varsity letter winners and professionals.
The emphasis on relays at Penn “brings runners together to compete … and brings a lot of team focus and camaraderie,” Abyad said.
“A strong relay performance demonstrates the depth of talent in a program, so there is immense pride involved in competing at the Penn Relays," Costello added.
Abyad is just one of several Princeton throwers looking to follow up on a strong showing at the Penn Relays last year with a repeat performance. “I am going into this meet like I go into every meet, continuing to do the things I need to do to perform well,” he said. Abyad finished in the top five last year in both the College discus and the Eastern shot put, in which he threw a personal best of 16.53 meters.
Last year, current senior Eric Plummer also finished in the top five for the shot put, and current junior Emma Ruggiero placed second in the College hammer. Freshman thrower Conor McCullough will be looking to place highly in the hammer throw this weekend in his first Penn Relays as a Tiger.
Sophomore distance runner Alex Banfich, who is competing in a 4x1,500m relay this year, explained this weekend’s place in the scope of the season as a whole. “Our main goals are still Heps and Regionals, the meet that qualifies athletes for Nationals," she said, "but [we] hope to post a great time, have fun, and compete as well as we can.”
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