Penn Relays bring thousands to Franklin Field for final day of event

Monitor and area fans have been thrilled concerning the occasion’s return after a hiatus as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is lots of enjoyable. I used to be right here my freshman yr, however I solely ran the 4×4. So to come back right here and run one of many premiere occasions it was an enormous deal,” stated Gary Martin, a senior at Archbishop Wooden Excessive Faculty who gained the mile with a time of 4 minutes and one second.

This yr’s occasion attracted 15,000 athletes aged 9 to 100 from all over the world.

“It is the ‘Penn Relays Carnival,’ and that is what it’s. I imply, there’s motion on the monitor for 3 days, but it surely’s a lot greater than that,” stated Aaron Robison, the affiliate director of the Penn Relays.

The occasion additionally attracts greater than 100,000 spectators to Franklin Subject to observe the highschool, school, and different elite athletes compete.

Tesia Thomas, an athlete from Penn State College, stated, “This yr with this climate and this atmosphere and this power, it has been a lot enjoyable.”

Whereas many regarded ahead to the occasion returning, athletes say it is not simply the competitors they missed throughout its hiatus.

“You do not know what you had till it is gone, and now it is again and having it again simply feels further particular,” stated Robison.

For a star like Martin, it is also an opportunity to thank his favourite stars, mother and pop.

“Whereas I’ve the microphone, I simply need to say, ‘Thanks for all the pieces, for planning the path to promenade, setting all the pieces up, and for dragging me round,’” he advised his mother and father throughout his successful speech.