PHILADELPHIA – As we quickly move to the turning of the calendar year, all eyes fall on to the 128th running of the Penn Relays presented by Toyota on April 25-27. On top of bringing back some of the most premier college programs in the country and welcoming the top high school talent from the United States and Caribbean Islands, the Penn Relays in partnership with World Athletics are excited to announce the addition of the Global Relays for the upcoming year.

"The Penn Relays is proud to welcome athletes from around the globe to Philadelphia," said Steve Dolan, the Frank Dolson Director of the Penn Relays. "In 2019, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Heritage Plaque was presented to the University of Pennsylvania and Franklin Field as acknowledgment of the Penn Relays contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track & field. 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."

The Global Relays will bring in countries from all over the world to compete in the 4x100 and 4x400 for both men and women. For the upcoming Penn Relays, over 12 nations have already expressed their intent to compete including some of the best in the world in their respective events ahead of the 2024 Olympic year.

With relay teams being announced at a later date, all four races will sport several top teams in World Rankings, as well as squads that competed in the 2021 Olympic finals and most recent World Championships.

"Providing a top-level competition opportunity at Penn for many of the national relay teams, one week before the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas which is the Olympic Trials for the teams in 2024 is a win-win for everyone," stated Pierce O'Callaghan, Head of Competition Management for World Athletics. "The teams get to finetune their baton changing and teamwork at the oldest relay meeting in the world in a high-pressure environment in front of 40,000 fans at the historic Franklin Field on Saturday afternoon. All the teams who have made it onto the start line are incredibly grateful for this rare opportunity to compete at the Penn Relays."

The full slate of events for April 25-27 will be announced in the coming week. The ticket renewal process for previous buyers for the 2024 Penn Relays will begin on Friday, December 15, 2023, when a limited availability of premium finish line seating will go on sale.  All other reserved and general admission tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, January 29, 2024.

For more information on the Penn Relays, head to our website at www.pennrelays.com and follow us on social media @pennrelays.