Five Big Storylines To Watch Out For Heading Into The Penn Relays
Five Big Storylines To Watch Out For Heading Into The Penn Relays
From the top masters moment to Quincy Wilson and Yared Nuguse, we outline five big topics to watch out for this weekend in Philadelphia.
Penn Relays Week is like a holiday to track and field fans across the U.S.
The oldest meet in the U.S. annually gathers nearly 100,000 fans in Philadelphia for the three-day quest at Franklin Field, and the competition features an incredible array of athletes, event disciplines and storylines, from the top U.S. and Jamaican high schools, to the best NCAA college programs, professional superstars and masters athletes.
There is literally something for everyone at The Penn Relays.
This year is no different, and FloTrack has been preparing for an all-out gala of content over three days in Philadelphia.
Below, check out five of the best storylines heading into the meet, which begins on Thursday at Franklin Field.
5. What Viral Moment Will We See From The Masters 70 And Older 100m Division?
It was only two years ago that Michael Kish blew us away with a 100 meter race that was literally ...ageless.
The New Jersey native was 70-years-old at the time and stopped the clock at 13.47 seconds, blowing away the field and pulling away from his nearest competitor over the last 40 meters. Kish looked every bit the master's athlete, with his compression socks, long-sleeve tech shirt and dark sunglasses.
But he also walked back time, clocking a performance that would be solid for a 40-year-old, let alone one in his 70s.
His performance was rightfully lauded afterward, with over 1.3 million views of his race on FloTrack's YouTube.
Kish will return to the Penn Relays this year representing Houston Elite. The current world record for a 70-year-old is 12.59 seconds, while the 75-year-old class stands at 13.25. We're just hoping we see some more magic from the viral star of 2022.
4. Vashti Cunningham Is Back At The Penn Relays
We can't wait for the return of Cunningham to The Penn Relays.
The 14-time U.S. champion and 26-year-old returns to the meet for the first time since 2017, meaning the last time she's been to Franklin Field was when she was a teenager.
The two-time Olympian, World Indoor champion and multiple-time World Championship qualifier heads to Philadelphia fresh off her outdoor debut when she cleared 1.95 meters.
Just how high can she go? Since hitting 2.0 meters in February of last year, Cunningham has not returned to that height. Her career best mark of 2.02 meters --tied for fourth-best all-time in the U.S. record books -- came in 2021, and so 2024 remains an important year for the Red Bull athlete.
Cunningham is eyeing her third Olympic Games, but moreover, the stakes couldn't be higher with a U.S. record of 2.05 meters within her grasp.
3. Are The Washington Women The Favorite In The DMR?
The Huskies claimed a NCAA Division I record in February at Boston University when they registered a time of 10:43.39 at the Boston University DMR Challenge behind the efforts of Chloe Foerster, Marlena Preigh, Carley Thomas and Anna Terrell.
That performance, however, meant little once they got to the NCAA Indoor Championships and finished 11th overall.
Times are times, but Washington came up short at nationals. And so there are certain redemptive qualities to this outdoor season for the Huskies, which will face stiff competition in the DMR against the likes of Providence, Harvard and Virginia.
Anchored by Kimberley May, Providence was sixth at nationals, while Harvard will lean on the merits of 800m runner Sophia Gorriaran and miler Maia Ramsden.
But if everything falls into place on Friday during the Championship of American women's college final (2:25 p.m. EST), Washington should have the final say.
2. What's Next From Quincy Wilson?
By now, Bullis School sophomore Quincy Wilson has turned into a household name ...at least in the track and field world.
After setting a new national indoor record in March at New Balance Nationals Indoor, the 16-year-old broke away for a show in March at the Florida Relays, posting a blitzing time of 45.19 in Gainesville for 400 meters -- a No. 8 all-time effort for a high schooler. What's more, though, the Bullis School boys ran 3:09 for 4x400 that same meet, which was a U.S. No. 1 performance that set the Maryland power up for a potential eclipsing of that time in April or May.
Last year at the Penn Relays, during the 4x400 heats, Wilson ran a unreal leg of 45.06 seconds to get the Bulldogs into the Championship of America finals. Bullis later dragged to the line in the final, finishing sixth.
With Jamaican teams considered the favorites here, can Wilson and Co. help Bullis secure the first American victory in the 4x400 since 2007 (Long Beach Poly)? For reference, the Penn Relays high school boys record is 3:03.79, last accomplished by Calabar in 2018. The high school national record is 3:07, which was last run by Hawthorne (CA) in 1985. The high school boys 4x400 heats begin on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. while the Championship of America final is at 5:30 p.m.
1. Yared Nuguse Is Entered In The Olympic Development Mile
The Goose is loose!
Nuguse is entered in the OD mile on Saturday (2:10 p.m. EST) and we could be in store for something special.
Paced by On Athletics Club teammate Geordie Beamish, the men's mile will feature Nuguse, who owns the American record in the event with a time of 3:43.97.
He ran that time in September of 2023 during the Prefontaine Classic. But since then, Nuguse hit an Olympic A standard in the 5K in Januuary (13:02), won the mile at the Millrose Games in 3:47.83, won the 3K at the U.S. Indoor Championships and was second in the 3K at World Indoors.
The field will include his OAC teamamte Oliver Hoare, along with Eric Holt, Ben Allen and a few others.
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