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TM
The Fast & Furious:
A Day at PENN RELAYS
A Day at PENN RELAYS
High school, college, professional, and masters athletic divisions from
around the country took place in the four day competition known as Penn
Relays. Approaching the huge Greek architectural-styled, brick stadium on
33rd and South Streets in Philadelphia, you can hear the roar of the crowd.
As you step through the gates, you can’t help but slow your walking pace
and take notice of the thousands of people in attendance at the world’s
largest annual track & field event. The sea of green and gold in the stands
makes you think that the entire Jamaican population is in attendance. But
for Jamaica and the United States, it’s more than just a competition; it’s
about who leaves with the most bragging rights.
“I would say that support here is overwhelming because there is a very
good basis for the sport,” Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Jamaican Sports Minister,
says, who also refers to Jamaica as ‘The Sprint Factory of the World.’
around the country took place in the four day competition known as Penn
Relays. Approaching the huge Greek architectural-styled, brick stadium on
33rd and South Streets in Philadelphia, you can hear the roar of the crowd.
As you step through the gates, you can’t help but slow your walking pace
and take notice of the thousands of people in attendance at the world’s
largest annual track & field event. The sea of green and gold in the stands
makes you think that the entire Jamaican population is in attendance. But
for Jamaica and the United States, it’s more than just a competition; it’s
about who leaves with the most bragging rights.
“I would say that support here is overwhelming because there is a very
good basis for the sport,” Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Jamaican Sports Minister,
says, who also refers to Jamaica as ‘The Sprint Factory of the World.’
“Track and field is extremely important to Jamaica and the Jamaican Public.
We have a tradition in athletics, we have the talent and we train very hard. I
call that ‘The Triple T.’ We call it physical culture. Physical education in our
schools starts at the primary school level and early childhood education. So
that forms a basis of our ability and our physical ability to run fast and be
very good with athletics especially track and field.”
This was very true, especially for this year. The High School boy’s team of
Calabar High School in Jamaica consisting of runners Earl Lee, Ramone
McKenzie, Ricardo Powell, and Oshaine Bailey set the fastest time ever run
at Penn Relays for high school at 39.91 in the 4x100 meter relay. This was
followed by the Jamaican women’s sprint medley relay team of Sheri-Ann
Brooks, Rosemarie Whyte, Moya Thompson and Kenia Sinclair setting a
world record, as well as a Penn Relays record, and capturing that win in the
800 meter leg of the race.
“I was a high jumper in high school,” Philadelphia 76ers star Andre Iguodala
says with a smile of pride while on the infield watching the events. “There is
a relationship because of that. There are some tremendous athletes out
here, especially the heptathletes and those that do a lot of events. Their
bodies go through a lot of work. The sprints, high jumpers and distance
runners, we have a lot of respect for them.”
We have a tradition in athletics, we have the talent and we train very hard. I
call that ‘The Triple T.’ We call it physical culture. Physical education in our
schools starts at the primary school level and early childhood education. So
that forms a basis of our ability and our physical ability to run fast and be
very good with athletics especially track and field.”
This was very true, especially for this year. The High School boy’s team of
Calabar High School in Jamaica consisting of runners Earl Lee, Ramone
McKenzie, Ricardo Powell, and Oshaine Bailey set the fastest time ever run
at Penn Relays for high school at 39.91 in the 4x100 meter relay. This was
followed by the Jamaican women’s sprint medley relay team of Sheri-Ann
Brooks, Rosemarie Whyte, Moya Thompson and Kenia Sinclair setting a
world record, as well as a Penn Relays record, and capturing that win in the
800 meter leg of the race.
“I was a high jumper in high school,” Philadelphia 76ers star Andre Iguodala
says with a smile of pride while on the infield watching the events. “There is
a relationship because of that. There are some tremendous athletes out
here, especially the heptathletes and those that do a lot of events. Their
bodies go through a lot of work. The sprints, high jumpers and distance
runners, we have a lot of respect for them.”
