Penn Relays 2024

University City will host many of the biggest stars in track and field this weekend at

The road to Paris runs through this year’s Penn Relays

After the elevation of the Relays to silver status and the introduction of the Global Relays, the path to the Olympics now runs through Philadelphia

KRISTEL RAMBAUD Sports Reporter

For one weekend in late April, all eyes are on Franklin Field.

Franklin Field’s historic significance cannot be understated. But for three days in April, it is the home to an estimated upwards of 100,000 spectators and 15,000 participants for the illustrious Penn Relays.

That’s just in a normal year. But 2024 is no normal year for Penn Relays.

On Dec. 5, 2023, Steve Dolan, the Frank Dolson director of Penn Relays, announced that Penn Relays 2024 will feature the Global Relays.

The Global Relays will feature teams composed of multiple of the nation’s best athletes competing in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays for both men and women. As of publication, over 12 teams

have verbally expressed intent to the Relays to send their national relay teams for these events. The events are slated to feature several of the best relay teams in the world, including teams that competed in the 2021 Olympic finals and the most recent World Championships.

“We are honored to build on the rich history by providing an opportunity for international relay teams and individuals to compete as they prepare for the World Relays and Olympic Games this year,” Dolan said in a press release.

However, the Global Relays are not a new concept to Relays. In fact, it is essentially the newest installment of a long-beloved event: United States vs. the World.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final day of Relays consistently pitted the Red,

White, and Blue’s greatest against their international peers in several relay events for both men’s and women’s for 20 years. Though going up against several countries, it often felt like U.S. vs. Jamaica. Every year, Jamaican fans make the pilgrimage to Philadelphia, where they proudly wave their flag and try to outshout the host nation’s cries of "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

The most iconic rendition of U.S. vs. the world took place in 2010. The 4x100m relay saw a Jamaica team touting Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, defeat the rest of the world in one of Relays’ greatest moments in its 128-year history.

But the world’s greatest are not coming to Penn Relays to solely entertain the crowd. Rather, Penn Relays now provides higher stakes in terms of international

ranking and competition.

On March 11, World Athletics officially elevated the Relays to Silver status for the Olympic Development events and Global Relays. Now, athletes will get more World Athletics points for their performance throughout the weekend. These points are crucial for not only world ranking but also for Olympic qualification.

To qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, track & field athletes can qualify in one of two ways: achieving the entry standard for an event within the qualification period or through their World Athletics Ranking within the ranking period. For almost all the individual events, the qualification and ranking period started on July 1, 2023, and will end on June 30. For relays, the qualification and ranking period started on Dec. 31, 2022, and will also end on June 30. With the Relays situated so close to the end of these periods, athletes will be making their push for qualification.

Additionally, a week after the Relays is the World Athletics Relays. The championship will take place in Nassau in the Bahamas, the main Olympic qualifying event for relays. The

BY THE NUMBERS

12 different nations represented

100,000

15,000 spectators participants

timing means that Penn Relays will serve as the last opportunity to finetune their relays teams before countries make their last pushes for the Olympics. With a trip to Paris on the line, much is at stake this year.

The road to Paris runs through Philadelphia this year. It is only a question of who will be at the starting line when the starting gun fires.

Design by Emmi Wu

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMI WU ANANYA CHANDRA | DP FILE PHOTO

the Penn Relays.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMI WU

How does the Penn Relay Carnival make money?

The University’s largest event of the year has a multi-pronged approach to generating revenue

NEEMA BADDAM AND VIVIAN YAO Sports Reporter and Sports Editor

The Penn Relay Carnival is the University’s single biggest event of the year.

The first Penn Relay Carnival — held on April 21, 1895 — boasted an attendance of 5,000 spectators and nine relay races, each featuring just two teams. Since then, that number has ballooned, with Franklin Field typically welcoming over 100,000 spectators and around 15,000 athletes competing in over 800 events across the threeday affair.

This year should be no different. So where does the money to hold such an extravagant event come from?

To answer this question, The Daily Pennsylvanian sat down with former Penn Relays Director Dave Johnson. Johnson served in the role from 1995 to 2021, making him the longest-tenured director of the Penn Relays in the Carnival’s 128-year history and the only director who has seen how the event has grown with technology-driven modernization.

Traditionally, donations played a large role in the money that helped fund the Relays. These contributions typically came from alumni and supporters of the Carnival and peaked in the early 1990s. As the 21st century approached, this faucet of

CASH RACE

income dried up — its place overtaken by sponsorships.

Sponsorships first made an appearance at the Relays in 1988 and have become a mainstay since. The 2024 Penn Relays will feature 25 different sponsors with the three largest sponsors — Chick-filA, On, and Toyota — each getting a day of the Carnival named after themselves. The popularity of the Relays has made it an enticing opportunity for companies to market themselves.

“The ability for Toyota to partner with Penn is really a significant thing for both of us,” Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association Secretary Bob McCormick said. “It just makes sense for [Penn] and makes sense for us. And we couldn't be happier to be part of this because we think it's such an iconic event.”

Another avenue of income for the Penn Relays is the entry fee. In order to compete, individual athletes must pay $25 while relay teams pay $50. At the time of publication, 1,947 individual athletes and 3,365 relay teams are currently set to compete in this year’s events. From entry fees alone, the Carnival is estimated to generate approximately $216,900 in revenue.

While this may seem like a lot, the amount pales in comparison to the event’s biggest

$216,900 earned from team entry fees alone

source of money: ticket sales.

The Relays employ a tiered ticketing system. During the first two days, the pricing is scaled across three different levels: Tier one seats are the sections directly on either side of the finish line section, while tier two seats are the rest of the lower bowl section on the same side as the finish line.

BY THE NUMBERS

1,947 individual athletes competing

3,365 relay teams competing

On the third day of the Carnival, a fourth tier is added, comprising all seating in the upper bowl. The creation of this fourth tier corresponds with the increased number of spectators in attendance for the final day of the event. On Saturday, upwards of 50,000 people pack Franklin Field to watch the Olympic Development events that feature many former Olympians and world champions.

If all attendees purchased the cheapest ticket price, the Penn Relays would generate $2.6 million from ticket sales. In actuality, the true amount garnered from ticket sales will be much higher than this

estimated amount.

The Relays have also seen mostly increasing attendance over the years, though crowds have historically been conditional on weather and the size of Franklin Field, as it was expanded over the years.

According to Johnson, the first time turnstile attendance was recorded by the Carnival was in 1958. To estimate attendance figures before then, he consulted various newspapers — specifically non-local papers like The New York Times to ensure that figures weren’t being blown up for the sake of reputation — to find attendance figures for given days.

“Before 1958, I had consulted various newspapers, wherever I could find an attendance figure for a given day,” Johnson said. “I generally went with The New York Times as an out of town newspaper that was here regularly and wasn’t as influenced as a hometown paper that wanted to make [the Penn Relays] look good.”

In 1922, Franklin Field was rebuilt into a larger facility that drew much larger crowds: In the year before the construction, attendance was 16,000, and in the year after, a crowd of nearly 35,000 almost filled the newly built lower deck. When the upper deck was constructed in 1929, attendance jumped to 50,000

the following year. After 1929, no major changes were made to the stadium, but attendance still fluctuated year-to-year based on weather and which athletes were in attendance. The first time the event hit 45,000 attendees was in 1929 when Paavo Nurmi, a decorated Finnish runner, came to Penn.

"The ability for Toyota to partner with Penn is really a significant thing for both of us. It just makes sense for [Penn] and makes sense for us."

BOB MCCORMICK

Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association Secretary

Weather — mostly rain — drove down attendance in early years, but in the early 2000s, when the Carnival started selling tickets by mail and through pre-orders instead of walk-ups, rainy weather actually encouraged early ticket sales as attendees wanted to make sure they had seats under the cover of the stadium.

After recent struggles with filling Franklin Field during the football season, the extravaganza will be a much-welcomed change of pace for one of the Ivy League’s best stadiums.

Design by Anish Garimidi

ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ANISH GARIMIDI

From Vashti Cunningham to Nia Akins, four athletes to keep an eye on

Out of a field consisting of 15,000 athletes, here are four well-established names who will make an appearance at this year’s Relays

VIVIAN YAO Sports Editor

Less than 100 days out from the 2024 Olympics in Paris, it is now officially crunch time for track and field athletes. The 2024 Penn Relays is one of the last opportunities for athletes to gain points toward their world standings that will help them secure or earn highly coveted spots on their respective national teams. Here’s a look at four of the top professional athletes who will be taking part in the 128th Penn Relays.

Vashti Cunningham, high jump

The Olympic Development women’s high jump is a new event being introduced to this year’s rendition of the Carnival. Cunningham, who has taken first place in the event at every United States track and field championship event — both indoor and outdoor — since

2017 will headline the group of women competing.

The two-time Olympian has her sights set on returning to the largest stage in track and field this upcoming summer after previously finishing 13th at Rio and 6th in Tokyo. This year will also mark the second appearance Cunningham will have made at the Penn Relays as a competitor.

“I’m just really excited to be coming to Penn Relays again,” Cunningham said. “I’ve only got to come one time, but I have been waiting for the opportunity to come and compete in the arena again. Because it’s just such an amazing vibe and the fans, the support and just the build up of everything.”

An added bonus: Where Cunningham goes, her father follows.

Randall Cunningham — a former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback — led the Eagles to a NFC Eastern

team, Hoare set the school and Big Ten Conference record in the indoor mile while also achieving NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field champion status in the 1500m in 2018.

“I’m extremely excited to be able to come and run at the Penn Relays,” Hoare said. “I mean, the Penn Relays — the history, and the event itself — has been around longer than my country’s been independent. It’s been pretty special to be able to compete in college for Wisconsin and now as a professional athlete.”

At the international level, Hoare currently holds the Australian record in the 1500m, mile, and the 5000m. He achieved star status in track and field after finishing first at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, followed with a bronze medal finish at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships.

A small sports hernia sidelined him from competing at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, but recovery has gone well, and Hoare will be coming to Franklin Field with his eyes also set on another Olympics appearance. In Tokyo, Hoare finished in 11th with a time of 3:35.79.

Nia Akins, 1500-meter

"The Penn Relays — the history, and the event itself — has been around longer than my country's been independent."

OLIVER HOARE

OLYMPIAN | MIDDLE-DISTANCE RUNNER

homecoming long in the making.

Bryce Deadmon, 400-meter

Deadmon is an American track and field athlete who became a U.S. national champion in the 400m in July 2023 after taking first at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. During his time at Texas A&M University, Deadmon finished in second in the 400m at both the 2021 SEC Outdoor Championship and the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Division Championship in 1988 and, at the time of retiring, set the record for NFL quarterback rushing yards. Vashti has confirmed that Randall will be in attendance at this year’s event, an announcement sure to be welcomed by the Philly crowd.

“My favorite part about coming to Penn Relays is just being in Philadelphia, because that’s such a place of history for me — my dad playing on the Eagles for as long as he did,” Vashti said. “Just seeing him get recognized and the fans that he’s passed down to me — it just feels like I’m living and watching him again. But I’m the athlete [this time].”

Oliver Hoare, 1500-meter

The Australian middle-distance runner is no stranger to the Penn Relays. As a member of the University of Wisconsin track and field

The former Penn women’s track and field middle-distance standout will be returning to Franklin Field — this time to compete at the professional level. During Akins time representing the Red and Blue, she was a four-time Outdoor Heps Champion, three-time qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, one of three named USTFCCCA National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year finalists, and the 2019 Penn Relays Athlete of the Meet.

Despite graduating in 2020, Akins still holds the program records for the outdoor 800m, the indoor and outdoor 4x800m relay, the outdoor 1500m, and the outdoor 4x400m relay. Her time of 2:00.71 achieved at the Boston Invitational in 2020 remains the second fastest indoor 800m time in NCAA competition history.

Following a year that saw Akins achieve U.S. champion status in the 800m at both the indoor and outdoor championships while finishing sixth at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023, Akins will be making the switch to the 1500m at this year’s Relays. She is no stranger to competing at the Relays, having dominated the 124th rendition of the Carnival. And after four years of college at Penn, Akins’ return to Franklin Field will be a

A time of 44.96 seconds in the U.S. Olympic Trials final secured Deadmon a seventh place finish and a spot in the U.S. men’s relay pool for the 4x400m. In Tokyo, Deadmon was part of a mixed 4x400m relay team that took home the bronze medal and a men’s 4x400m relay team that won a gold medal.

The two-time Olympic medalist will be competing in the 400m at this year’s Penn Relays, which will most likely be Deadmon’s last race before he heads to Nassau, Bahamas, to compete in the 2024 World Athletics Relays as a member of the American team.

Design by Emmi Wu and Insia Haque

BY THE NUMBERS

Nia Akins is a four-time Outdoor Heps Champion

Nia Akins is a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Championships

4X 3X 1ST

Vashti Cunningham has taken first place in the high jump event at every USA track and field championship event since 2017

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMI WU

The Daily Pennsylvanian looks at four of the top professional athletes who will be taking part in this year's Penn Relays.

In Photos: The evolution of the Penn Relays over 128 Carnivals

Despite many changes, Penn’s most historical sports event continues to draw in crowds of over 100,000 from all around the world

WEINING DING Sports Photo Editor

1. The awards of Penn Relays have been one of its most defining features in the past. A variety of awards have been used, the most famous of which in recent years is the golden watch given to winners of championship races. Penn Relays has also awarded “The Wheel,” a circular wooden plaque inscribed with the words “University of Pennsylvania Relay Carnival” with imagery of Penn’s founder, Benjamin Franklin, handing a laurel sprig to four runners. “The Wheel” has been given to teams that have won in a relay event since its creation in 1925, another tie to the Relays’s impact in the creation of the relay. But before all of these newer prizes, the Relays awarded banners and cups to event winners.

2. Batons were first introduced into the Relays in 1913, following their usage in the 1912 Olympics. Before batons, runners had to touch the next runner who had to be still at their mark. Now, batons at the Relays are a coveted red and blue gem.

It has been 139 years since the first Penn Relays, and much has changed since then. Awards, competitors, and even the track itself has changed since the original Relays in 1895. Despite many changes, Penn’s most historical sports event continues to draw in crowds of over 100,000 from all around the world, keeping the tradition of the Penn Relays alive. Let’s take a look at the evolution of Penn Relays throughout the years.

3. Women’s events at Penn Relays were not introduced until 1962, with the addition of the women’s 100-yard dash. More women’s events were added in the years following, including the women’s olympic development relay and high school 440y relay. Now, the over 300 events that Penn Relays currently host are equally split by gender.

5. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the first cancellation of Penn Relays since its inception in 1895. Franklin Field’s usually packed stands were empty for the spring of 2020 and 2021. As the world shut down, Penn Relays still sought to connect the world of track and field through digital Relays.

4. USA vs. the World brought iconic athletes to Franklin Field for several years. Usain Bolt, Marion Jones-Thompson, and Michael Johnson were some of the biggest names in this international event. For the first time since 2019, Penn Relays will be incorporating international events, now under the name of “The Global Relays.”

COURTESY OF PENN ARCHIVES

A Penn Relays banner awarded in 1897.

COURTESY OF PENN ARCHIVES

High school athletes run in a women's relay event at the 1980 Penn Relays.

ALEX REMNICK | DP FILE PHOTO

Usain Bolt during the USA v. the World relay event at the 2010 Penn Relays.

SUKHMANI KAUR | DP FILE PHOTO

Empty bleachers at Franklin Field on Jan. 30, 2021.

COURTESY OF PENN ARCHIVES

Athletes compete in a relay event during the 1913 Penn Relays.

The Penn Relays Wall of Fame Class of 2024 includes Shalonda Solomon, Terrence Trammell and Nick Vena.

Reflecting on the Relays: 2024 Wall of Fame inductees discuss their careers at the Carnival

Terrence Trammell, Nick Vena, and Shalonda Solomon are set to be immortalized at this year’s Carnival

CONOR SMITH Sports Associate

Starting in 1994 to commemorate the 100th iteration of the Carnival, the Penn Relays Wall of Fame is an honor like no other in track and field. This year is no different: The Wall will see the addition of multiple new individuals and relay teams who have previously dominated at the Penn Relays.

Each Wall of Fame inductee was asked to describe the Penn Relays in one word:

“EXHILARATING”

SHALONDA SOLOMON

“ENTHUSIASTIC”

TERRENCE TRAMMELL

“CARNIVAL”

NICK VENA

Shalonda Solomon

Shalonda Solomon has commanded attention at the Relays across five different appearances. However, prior to becoming one of the greats of the Relays, she was once a new face at the Carnival. She described entering

Franklin Field for the first time as a “jaw dropping, heart pounding” experience.

“I was just in awe of the talent, the production itself, the quality of athletes, and schools that they had there,” Solomon recalled. “And the fans, the fans were just always in it.”

Despite this immense pressure, Solomon made a splash her first go-around, being named the meet’s outstanding female high school relay athlete. This showing would only be a taste of what she had to offer to the Carnival, as the California native went on to win an impressive seven watches during her Relays career. Many of Solomon’s watches, earned at the various levels of the Relays, were given to those who influenced her life.

University, Terrence Trammell will take on two responsibilities at this year’s Carnival: celebrating his achievements while preparing his team for the spectacle.

So, what is Trammell’s approach for preparing his team for the Relays?

“Just keep it a normal race. So they won’t get overwhelmed,” Trammell explained. “Try to approach all races the same. Just focus on the execution of the race pattern and make the most of the opportunity.”

school, Vena was blown away by the grandiosity of the event and its many participants, knowing that his age made him “the lowest guy on the totem pole.”

Vena dove further into his first performance, recalling, “I came away with with a win that year as the underdog, and came away with the MVP.”

this event and holds special place in Solomon’s heart.

“Long Beach Poly is first and foremost a family. The coaches have the heart for their athletes,” Solomon explained. “They’re not just concerned for them on the track. They are also concerned about their well-being and their health.”

Solomon is making sure her family and friends are packing the stands to see her return to the stadium her athletic career got its jump start.

Nobody is more qualified to give advice about mentally preparing for the Carnival than Trammell. Garnering four watches between his collegiate career at South Carolina and representing Team USA in 2002, Trammell has cemented his legacy as integral to the history of the Carnival. Even after 24 years, he still owns the fastest time for 110m hurdles at the Relays, with a time of 13.34 seconds.

Trammell did not approach his professional debut at the Relays differently compared to his time as a Gamecock. “It didn't differ much after the first time because we competed there so much. You just always knew it was going to be an electrified crowd,” he explained.

On being inducted into the Wall of Fame, Trammell stated: “It feels good to be inducted. I think that it just spoke to the type of career and performances that I have had, so you know that’s exciting.”

Nick Vena

Along with being inducted for her individual performances, Solomon’s 2003 Long Beach Poly 4x400-meter relay team is being inducted for its collective success. The team boasts the second-fastest time in Carnival history for

“I am truly happy to be honored. I mean, my whole family is coming. I think we may have too many guests coming," Solomon joked. “That's how excited and how happy my family is for me. I’m just truly blessed and honored.”

Terrence Trammell

Now coaching track and field at North Carolina A&T State

Hailing from the Garden State, Nick Vena’s home state of New Jersey is just from Philadel— or at least for Vena, who is the most dominant high school shot put thrower in Penn Relays and New Jersey state history. Growing up in close proximity to the Carnival, Vena grew up hearing about the athletic extravaganza that is the Relays. As a freshman in high

Being selected as the Carnival’s outstanding high school male athlete in an individual event, Vena’s successes as a freshman was not a flash in the pan performance. His strength would only improve as he grew into his frame, becoming virtually unstoppable throughout his four years representing Morristown High School. Vena went on to win every high school boy’s shot put event held at the Relays during this time, and was donned the MVP honors once again as a sophomore.

Vena returned as a collegiate athlete once, representing the University of Virginia. This is an experience that he holds close to his heart due to the “good camaraderie amongst the colleges” and the fierce level of competition he was facing.

Like Trammell, Vena is also coaching at the Relays this week. He has returned to his alma mater, Morristown High, to coach track and field, and feels immense pride in the team he is now coaching. Unlike Trammell, Vena’s coaching strategy prioritizes explaining the immensity of the Relays to first time participants.

“[All our coaches] do a great job of talking about the history of the Penn Relays and how imis — these great accomplishments and where they stand in the history of track and field," Vena commented.

“I don’t want it to be pressure for them, but I want them to use it as a tool.”

Design by Emmi Wu

ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Nick Vena | Four-time boys shot put winner, two-time outstanding high school male athlete at the Carnival

Terrence Trammell | 4 Relays watches, two-time Olympic silver medalist

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMI WU

Shalonda Solomon | 7 Relays watches, NCAA and U.S. 200m champion

10 questions with Penn athletes

Bella Whittaker, Liv Morganti, and Jimmy Rhoads

The Daily Pennsylvanian interviewed three prominent Penn track athletes set to appear at this year's carnival about their goals on the field

VIVIAN YAO AND DEREK WONG Sports Editor and Video Editor

After a successful season that has seen Penn track and field break numerous program records, The Daily Pennsylvanian interviewed three Quakers who have found great success this campaign and are poised to excel at the 128th Penn Relay Carnival.

First up is senior sprinter Bella Whittaker, who has dominated all year. This year alone, she has set Ivy League and program records in the 4x400-meter relay and 4x100-meter relays. At this year’s Relays, Whittaker will be a member of the 4x400 relay team, entering the competition with the third-fastest time this season.

Whittaker also has her sights set on making the trip to Paris later this summer to represent Team USA at the Olympics.

The DP also spoke to senior

steeplechase specialist Liv Morganti. Morganti currently holds the program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:59.41. This past year at the indoor Heptagonal Championships, Morganti also set the program record in the mile with a time of 4:40.01 — good enough for a second place finish. Morganti will be running the 3,000 meter steeplechase at this year’s Relays and is also predicted to finish third in the event.

Finally, junior pole vaulter Jimmy Rhoads recently broke the program pole vault record with a 5.62 meter jump at the Mt. SAC Relays. That mark is also good for third in the history of the Ivy League. Rhoads has his sights set on a strong finish at this year's Relays, and hopes to represent the Red and Blue well on their home turf.

across the NCAA that compete at a high level, so I would say my family for sure.

Rhoads: Definitely my teammates right now, Ben [Šachta] and Scott [Toney].

Q3: What is your favorite memory of athletics, competing or not?

Whittaker: One of my favorite memories is probably [back in January], I broke the Ivy League record, a huge [personal best] in the indoor 400m. I was super emotional after it happened, and I was flooded by support from my family — like, it was the best feeling ever.

Morganti: We won the Ivy League Championships [on Feb. 28], and it was really close when it came down to the last relay race. Our 4x4 girls always get it done. They crossed the line, and that was a great way to end my senior indoor season.

Rhoads: Probably Nationals this year, where I got fourth [in pole vault].

Q4: How do you prepare for a competition?

Whittaker: I’m a big meditator. I meditate [and] do this little 15-minute meditation the morning before I compete. That really calms me [and] brings me down to earth. That’s probably one of my biggest preps for a competition.

Morganti: I just do what I normally do. I wake up in the morning, and I have peanut butter banana toast, and I hang out. I try to get my mind right [for the competition].

Rhoads: I just sleep well, eat well, and try to be loose before the competition.

Q5: What’s one thing you can’t live without?

Whittaker: I can actually do the worm. If you want me to do it, I'll do it. You don't even have to force me. [proceeds to do the worm]

Morganti: I have two dogs and three cats, and have always had frogs, fish, snakes, every kind of pet growing up.

Rhoads: I have 10 cats at home. [laughs]

Q8: What is your favorite study spot?

Whittaker: Right now, Milkcrate. It's also slightly off campus. It's a little coffee shop. Shout out to Milkcrate. I love it there.

Morganti: Um, I don't really like to study. [laughs] Not that I don’t like to study. I don’t like to study on campus, like, I will sit in my bed to do work every time.

Rhoads: I don’t study much, but just at my own house.

Q9: If you could tell your freshman year self something, what would it be?

Whittaker: It would be to enjoy the journey. I think that I am a really impatient person, like I really like results quick. I think I’ve learned to be a little more patient and wait for what I want. I put in the work every day, so I think just to enjoy that journey, just enjoy that [process of] putting in the work.

Morganti: That’s a tough one. I was in a much different spot with running and with everything my freshman year. I would tell myself that it all gets better, it just keeps getting better.

Rhoads: Care less about school, for sure. Focus more on track.

Q10: What are your goals this year, both in and out of competition?

Q1: What sport do you play?

Bella Whittaker: I do track and field. I'm a long sprinter, so [I do] the 400-meter mainly.

Liv Morganti: I do women's cross country and track and field.

Jimmy Rhoads: Track and field, pole vault.

Q2: Is there a coach or athlete you look up to?

Whittaker: I would say the biggest athlete I look up to is my younger sister. She's actually an athlete as well. She runs the 800m, so I would say that she’s probably one of my biggest inspirations on the track.

Morganti: I come from a family of runners. My dad is one of five [siblings], and all of them ran in college. My mom ran in college, that’s how my parents met, and I have cousins

Whittaker: My headphones. I need my headphones. I can’t walk around just, like, thinking in my own thoughts. I need music.

Morganti: I can’t live without 10 hours of sleep!

Rhoads: Pole vaulting!

Q6: Any hot takes?

Whittaker: Some people don't wear socks with their spikes. I think that’s really weird, and I don't think you should do that, so don't do that. No one wants to see your dogs out at track meets, respectfully.

Morganti: I wear toe socks, every day, and people don't like them, but I'll tell you what: They make you faster.

Rhoads: This is a bit of a sport one; probably that gymnastics is the hardest sport.

Q7: What is something most people don’t know about you?

Whittaker: I want to get to Olympic Trials, that’s a big goal of mine. I want to get to the finals of Olympic Trials. I want to make it to the Olympics, like the big goals. I want to run 49 point [seconds] in the 400m. Outside of that, I just want to be confident. I want to be that girl on the track but also in every aspect of my life. I want to carry that into it no matter the circumstances.

Morganti: The biggest thing that I have my eyes on is, it's an Olympic year this year, so I want to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the steeplechase and compete. Outside of athletics, I want to take in every bit of my senior year and just appreciate all of it.

Rhoads: I hope to jump 5.70m and I hope to qualify for Olympic Trials. Win conference [Ivy League Outdoor Heps] too, that would be nice. I'm all focused on track.

Design by Emmi Wu

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMI WU

Jamaican sprinter Roneisha McGregor headlines 400-meter field

The Olympic medalist will represent a nation that has deep historical ties with Franklin Field and the Carnival

SONALI CHANDY AND VIVIAN YAO Sports Reporter and Sports Editor

With the 128th edition of the Penn Relay Carnival, hundreds of thousands of spectators are gathering to witness over 15,000 track and field athletes compete in the nation’s oldest two-tiered stadium, Franklin Field. Among the field of competitors is Jamaican sprinter and Olympian Roneisha McGregor. McGregor’s track abilities first caught eyes at the 2017 ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, where she was the winner of the Class One 200 meters. Representing Hydel High School for the 17-18 girls division, McGregor clocked a brisk 23.19 time. The invitational, better known as Champs, is an annual Jamaican high school track and field event, notorious for weeding out the country’s top athletic prospects, including eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt.

Franklin Field is not new turf for McGregor. In fact, McGregor ran with Hydel High School at the 2017 Carnival where the team set the high school girls 4x400m record at the time in the championship race.

TO REPRESENT SUCH A FANATIC NATION AT ONE OF TRACK AND FIELD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS IS A DREAM COME TRUE. BUT WITH THE OLYMPICS QUICKLY APPROACHING, THE STAKES OF THESE PENN RELAYS ARE EVEN HIGHER FOR MCGREGOR.

McGregor’s success continued in 2019, when she won silver at the World Championships in the 4x400m mixed relay and bronze

in the women's 400m relay. She earned her spot on the Jamaican Olympic team after running her 400m best of 50.02 seconds for third place at the Jamaican Athletics Championships in 2021.

Her Olympic dreams, set to be held in Tokyo, were momentarily paused in 2020 after the International Olympic Committee announced that the Games would be moved to the following year due to the developing global situation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jamaican team, composed of McGregor, Janieve Russell, Shericka Jackson, and Candice McLeod, made their presence known at the 2021 Games, qualifying for the women's 4x400m final. As the youngest on the team, McGregor ran the starting leg of the race, helping her country win a bronze medal.

Since then, McGregor has won gold in the World Indoor Championships in the women’s 4x400m relay.

To represent such a fanatic nation at one of track and field’s most prestigious events is a dream come true. But with the Olympics quickly approaching, the stakes of these Penn Relays are even higher for McGregor in order to repeat her success from three years ago. At the Carnival, McGregor will be looking to collect some points to go toward her world ranking as she sets her sights on a plane ticket to Paris.

This race is also an especially meaningful one for Jamaica as this year’s event marks the 60th year of Jamaican participation at the Penn Relays. In 1964, Jamaica debuted at the Carnival in dominating fashion, with a relay team representing Kingston College, taking home gold in the 440-yard relay with a time of 42.7 seconds. The win paved the

path for future groups to make the journey up from the Caribbean for the annual competition.

Since then, Jamaica has become a major part of the three-day extravaganza. In fact, the Jamaican flag became the first foreign flag to be flown at Franklin Field. The flying of the flag was initially announced in the lead up to the 2012 Penn Relays to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary of its independence but quickly became a mainstay for future renditions of the Relays.

The recognition of the Caribbean nation is well-deserved, as previous estimates have concluded that approximately half of the over 100,000 people attending the Relays are Caribbean nationals. In 2010, the arrival of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the Relays led to the event’s largest crowd ever, with the crowd peaking at 54,310 people on Saturday — many of whom made the pilgrimage from Jamaica to see their idol race in person.

The Olympic Development women's 400m race is set to take place on Saturday at approximately 3:13 p.m. McGregor headlines a competitive field that also features Tierra RobinsonJones and Chloe Abbott of the United States.

Design by Katrina Itona

BY THE NUMBERS

McGregor's best runs throughout her career

BY THE NUMBERS

Statistics about Steve Dolan's coaching career

11 YRS as an assistant coach at The College of New Jersey

8 YRS as an assistant coach at Princeton University

13 YRS as an assistant coach at Penn

4 YRS as the director of Penn Relays

Penn

The Godfather of the Penn Relays: Steve Dolan

The men’s track and field middle distance and distance coach also has the responsibility of organizing the Penn Relays

PHOEBE WEINTRAUB Sports Associate

The Penn Relays, hosted annually by the University at Franklin Field, has long been one of the most important events within the global track and field community.

Its first meet in 1895 drew a crowd of 5,000 people, a number that has only continued to rise over the years — in 1958, attendance reached a high of 43,618 and in 2006, climbed to 113,000 spectators. To orchestrate an event of such magnitude requires a leader with an intense level of organization and vision. Who better to put together the Penn Relays than Penn’s own track and field coach — himself a veteran of the sport — Steven Dolan.

As a student at the University of St. Thomas, Dolan began competing in the decathlon, an event consisting of 10 track and field events. While at UST, he set school records in the decathlon, pentathlon, and javelin, and became the NCAA Division III national champion during his senior year in — cementing himself six years later with an induction into UST’s Hall of Fame.

Without a clear career objective

upon graduation, Dolan decided to combine his skillset as a business administration major and track and field athlete. As he pursued a masters in athletic administration from the College of New Jersey, he discovered a newfound passion with his role as a graduate assistant track coach — jumpstarting his career as a collegiate coach.

After serving as an assistant coach, Dolan quickly made a name for himself as the director of men’s and women’s track and cross country at TCNJ. During his 11-year tenure at the school, he transformed its track program into one of best Division III programs in the country.

Dolan’s athletes were consistently some of the best in the nation — he coached 66 All-America award winners, five of whom were NCAA champions. For his incredible work, Dolan was awarded the NCAA Division III Regional Coach of the Year 12 times. He then transferred to Princeton, where he served as the head men’s cross country coach and assistant men’s track coach and proceeded

to win NCAA Regional Coach of the Year four times.

After eight years at Princeton, Dolan came to Penn as the director of track and field and cross country in 2012. Track and field has long been one of the most important programs at Penn, due to the University’s contributions to the development of the sport.

“I do think that there’s very few programs in the country [that] have a more connectedness and a richer history that we do here at Penn with track and field,” Dolan said. “So it's honestly kind of humbling to be a part of that.”

Upon the 2020 retirement of Dave Johnson, the previous Penn Relays director, Dolan was appointed to direct the annual meet. He entered the position with a clear plan to elevate the Relays by broadening its brand through hosting more events at Franklin Field and expanding the event’s audience by creating more entertaining experiences for both participants and attendees.

Penn Athletic Director Alanna Shanahan applauded Dolan’s

ability to tackle both the track and field program and Penn Relays.

“Steve has the vision and experience to take this nationally and internationally recognized event and make it even more impactful,” she said.

Aligning both programs increases resources to each, ultimately allowing them to expand and further their successes.

Speaking on the event this year, Dolan said that around 15,000 ath-

“I do think that there's very few programs in the country [that] have more connectedness and a richer history than we do here at Penn with track and field.

STEVE DOLAN Track & Field Coach

letes are competing and that there is an expected audience of over 100,000 people.

“We always call it the Penn Relays Carnival,” he said. “The

whole atmosphere, the vendor village, and there’s a DJ, [there’s] just a lot of energy down here.”

While the schedule will remain similar to those of the past several years, Dolan is especially excited about the athletes that will be arriving in the coming days.

“There’ll definitely be Olympians competing here — like athletes will end up at the Olympics this year,” Dolan said. “Both on college teams and professional athletes.”

In terms of high school athletes, the “highly contested” relays are the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays, with over 650 teams competing in both events.

One major change that Dolan made to the program was the addition of the men’s and women’s high jump in the Olympic Development Program, which is reserved for professional athletes.

“I think that’ll be fun for the fans to see,” he said.

Several international teams will also compete in the 128th rendition of the Penn Relays, making the annual competition “as exciting as any,” according to Dolan.

The 2024 Penn Relays will take place across a three-day period at Franklin Field. Penn students can get free tickets on Thursday and Friday and discounted tickets on Saturday.

CHASE SUTTON | DP FILE PHOTO

women's track and field coach Steve Dolan is also the Frank Dolson director of the Penn Relays.

Design by Dana Bahng

The Ott Center is set to feature a banked track, long and high jump pits, a throwing area, and roughly 1,000 spectator seats.

Ott Center set to open this August as supporting fixture for future Penn Relays

The $69.35 million indoor track and facility has been in the works since October 2019

Sports Reporter

It’s been a long time coming, but the Jane and David Ott Center for Track and Field is finally here.

Originally announced in October 2019, after some delays, the Ott Center is set to open at the end of this summer in August. The $69.35 million state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility has been progressing on schedule since last March.

“The exterior skin of the facility has been going up as well as the windows. The interior work is also starting to go up for the bathrooms as well as the plumbing and lighting fixtures. The concrete slab has also been poured,” Associate Athletic Director of Facilities Noah Gustkey said.

The new 73,000-square-foot track and field center will be in the southeast corner of Penn’s campus between Rhodes Field and the Hollenback Center. The latter is also currently being renovated with a completion date set for August, aligning with the completion of the Ott Center and the preseason soccer camps that are held there.

The center will be a new hub for indoor practice and competition for the Penn track and field teams, featuring a banked track, long and high jump pits, a throwing area, and nearly 1,000 spectator seats. It will be especially helpful for training during winter weather and rain, as well as being a practice site for all track and field athletes under one roof, from throwers

to runners to high jumpers.

“It’s a new home for Penn track and field,” coach Steve Dolan said. “We have between 110 and 120 athletes that do men’s or women’s track and field. That’s going to be amazing from a training standpoint — a place to compete and a home base for our team.”

Although the focus is on the benefits for Penn track and field, the Ott Center will be a place for the campus community as well as the greater Philadelphia community.

“Some of the local high schools and colleges will have opportunities to compete in the building, and our campus community can take advantage of [the center] as well,” Dolan said. “There will be open hours where people can use the

BY THE NUMBERS

$69.35 million invested in facility

73,000 square feet track and field center

1,000 spectator seats

indoor site for some field events during inclement weather. At last year’s Relays, heavy and consistent rain poured on Franklin Field on the second and third days of the meet. The conditions were not dangerous enough to cancel field events, but such a situation can arise — which is where the Ott Center comes into play.

facility. It’s going to be great for the Penn campus community and the whole Philadelphia area for track and field.”

In addition to attracting those in the area, the hope is that the center has the opportunity to host future championship meets. While Franklin Field is first-class, and hosts meets such as large Masters meets, it

"There will be open hours where people can use the facility. It's going to be great for the Penn campus community and the whole Philadelphia area for track and field.”

has notably not yet hosted the Ivy League Heptagonal Track and Field Championships or the even more prestigious NCAA Division I Championships yet.

Although the center will not be completed for the upcoming 2024 Penn Relays, the Ott Center will play key supporting roles for future Relays.

One supporting role is as an

“The NCAA does allow certain events to be moved inside of its inclement weather. For instance, the vertical jumps like the pole vault and the high jump, could compete indoors if we had rain and such,” Dolan said.

The Ott Center will also support the Relays in providing a large warm up space for track and field athletes.

“Even more than just the competition moving indoors, [the Ott Center] gives us a dry, large warm up space opportunity,” Dolan said. “[Athletes will] have another spot to organize a warm-up before coming onto Franklin Field, especially if they are competing in the rain.”

With the new Ott Center and the annual Penn Relays at the historic Franklin Field, Penn continues to be a epicenter for track and field on the East Coast — something that should excite the Penn community.

“There’s no larger and more exciting meet than Penn Relays, and when you add the Ott Center, that is very exciting,” Dolan said. “Penn and the City of Philadelphia are doing great things for the track and field world. It’s super exciting, and I think it’ll be great for our campus community and for the sport.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAH GUSTKEY

VALERI GUEVARRA

Design by Emmi Wu

STEVE DOLAN Track & Field coach