PHILADELPHIA - We are less than a month out from the 128th running of The Penn Relays presented by Toyota at historical Franklin Field, and we're excited to announce the first Olympic Development field with the Toyotal Women's 1,500m. Highlighting the field is reigning 2023 champion, Josette Andrews. 
 

TOYOTA OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT WOMEN'S 1,500M

NAME	COUNTRY	PERSONAL BEST
Nozomi Tanaka	Japan	3:59.19
Josette Andrews	USA	3:59.72
Helen Schlachtenhaufen	USA	4:01.09
Sage Hurta-Klecker	USA	4:01.79
Yolanda Ngarambe	Sweden	4:03.43
Marta Pen Freitas	Portugal	4:03.79
Rebecca Mehra	USA	4:04.90
Angel Piccirillo	USA	4:05.32
Nia Akins	USA	1:57.73 (800m)

Andrews, who clocked a new Penn Relays record in 2023 of 4:04.88 and erased a 27-year mark set by USA's Julie Henner (4:06.84 in 1996), headlines a list of 10 competitors from five different countries and a lot of familiarity of Franklin Field. Andrews currently ranks 27th in the world in the 1,500m.

She will be joined by On teammate, Sage Hurta-Klecker in the event, both of which raced at the Relays last year. Hurta-Klecker placed third in the Olympic Development 600m event with a time of 1:25.33. Hurta-Klecker currently ranks 13th in the world for the 800m.

One of Andrews' top competitors in the event will be Japan's Nozomi Tanaka, coming in with the best personal time in the event of 3:59.19. She currently ranks 34th in the world in the event and 11th in the 5,000m. A decorated career is highlighted by an eighth place finish in the 1,500m at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

Coming off the best year of her career in 2023, Nia Akins will return to her roots of Franklin Field where she was a successful Penn All-American. Competing in the 600m in 2022 against Athing Mu at the Penn Relays where she finished third, she followed it with a 2023 season that saw her win a US national title in the 800m with a time of 1:59.50. Earning her a ticket to World Championships in Budapest, she capped off the season with a personal-best time in the event of 1:57.73 to finish sixth. She is currently ranked ninth in the world in the 800m. 

Another athlete making a return to the Penn Relays where she had a decorated history is Villanova alum, Angel Piccirillo. She won six Penn Relays titles during her career and was a nine-time All-American as a Wildcat. 

Helen Schlachtenhaufen is another US native in the race, currently ranking 36th in the world in the 1,500m. Her top honor of her career at this point is a bronze finish in 2022 at the NACAC Championships in the Bahamas. She joins a total of six Americans in the race including Rebecca Mehra. 

Additional countries in the race include Sweden and Portugal, represented by Yolanda Ngarambe and Marta Pen Freitas, respectively. 

The 128th running of the Penn Relays is set for April 25-27 at Franklin Field. Don't miss out on the largest track and field event in the country, with over 15,000 athletes competing across three days ranging from high school, college, professional, and masters. Buy your tickets today!