Junior High School, Middle School, and Parochial Schools

2025 Penn Relays
Junior, Middle, Elementary Information

All times in the schedule are tentative and subject to change.

Rules of Competition: The rules of competition for junior high schools, middle schools, parochial schools, and elementary schools for this Carnival shall be the 2024-2025 Official National Federation Edition Track and Field and Cross County Rules Book, except where the longtime practices, special facilities, and special written rules of the Carnival may require otherwise. All junior high, middle and elementary school competitors must compete for their school teams and be cleared for competition by the school principal. Relay teams must consist of runners from the same school. Competition in the High School Division of the Relay Carnival is under the supervision of official representatives of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Team Membership: No athlete may participate with two different affiliations in one Carnival.

Track and Field Surfaces: The track is a synthetic surface of 3/8" thickness.

Spikes: Junior High Schools, Middle Schools and Parochial Schools may wear spikes if they are allowed by their group. Shoes will not be checked by the clerks, and enforcement of any group’s no-spikes rule is up to the group coordinators. Spikes may not be worn for the Elementary School Races.

Checkpoints: Relay zone checkpoints may be marked with standard white trainer’s tape only. No other items may be used, including chalk, powder, duct tape, masking tape, tacks or safety pins.

Starting Blocks are not permitted in junior high school, middle school, parochial school or elementary school events.

Lane Priority: Turn Races (9 lanes) 6-7-8-9-5-4-3-2-1.

Results will be posted HERE. Results will not be supplied to coaches in the Press Area.

Jury of Appeals will be chaired by Joe Lang. A $25.00 fee must accompany an appeal. The Penn Relays has no official video, and no independent video may be used in protests or appeals.

JUNIOR/MIDDLE/PAROCHIAL SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS EVENTS

4x100m Relay: Group Races, Thursday; maximum of nine teams in each race, separate prizes for each race (prize #10). Sequence of races (running at two-minute intervals): PIAA District I 9th Grade Boys; PIAA District I 9th Grade Girls; PIAA District I Middle School Boys; PIAA District I Middle School Girls; Camden Diocese Boys; Camden Diocese Girls; South Jersey Middle School Boys; South Jersey Middle School Girls; Wilmington Diocese Boys; Wilmington Diocese Girls; Philadelphia Archdiocese Boys Junior; Philadelphia Archdiocese Girls Junior; Philadelphia Archdiocese Boys Senior; Philadelphia Archdiocese Girls Senior; Philadelphia 7th and 8th Grade Small School Boys; Philadelphia 7th and 8th Grade Small School Girls; Philadelphia 7th and 8th Grade Large School Boys; Philadelphia 7th and 8th Grade Large School Girls; Philadelphia Area Private and Charter School Boys; Philadelphia Area Private and Charter School Girls. Each group shall conduct qualifying races when and where it chooses.

PHILADELPHIA 7th & 8th GRADE 4x100m Relay Rules & Regulations

Schools are encouraged to enter this meet. However, participation is on a voluntary basis and substitute service cannot be provided.

Small and Large Schools 400 Meter Relay Girls and Boys Events
1. Schools in grades sixth through eighth grades are eligible to participate in this event.
2. Schools may enter both a girls and a boys team. Schools must complete the attached entry blank. Entries must be received no later than Friday, April 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
3. Trials to Determine Finalists:
  TBD
4. Qualifiers – The eight (8) teams with the best qualifying times will participate in the event finals at the Penn Relays on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Only the eight qualifying teams will receive tickets for the relays.
Supervisory Committee Rules
1. Participating students must secure parental permission to compete (Form EH 80).
2. Pupils participating in the regular physical education program without medical restriction shall be considered to be medically cleared for participation.
3. Any pupil may be prohibited from competition at the discretion of the Principal.
4. A pupil shall not represent his school on a day when he has been absent from school, except by permission of the Principal.
5. Pupils must be academically eligible according to School District policy.
6. A pupil shall not represent his/her school after his/her 16th birthday.
General Regulations
1. Participants must wear track shoes or sneakers. They also must wear matching shirts and shorts.
2. Participants may wear 1/4 inch needle spikes.
3. Starting blocks will not be permitted at the Time Trials or the finals.
General Information 400 Meter Relay
1. The races consist of each of four team members running 100 meters around track.
2. Batons will be used.
3. Staggered starts will be used.
4. Lane positions will be assigned according to the best times made at the qualifying trials.
General Instructions
1. Pupils should wear sufficient top clothing for adequate protection in case of inclement weather conditions while waiting before and after their races.
2. Qualifying teams for the 4×100 will be notified as to when and where their packets will be available.
3. Approximately one hour before the race is scheduled, teams should be assembled in the paddock area.

Questions can be directed to: jnihillphilasd@comcast.net

It is our intention to post a weekly update for schools that have completed the registration process. In addition we will also be posting the tentative Heat and Lane Assignments. This listing will be posted on or before Friday, April 11, 2025. In this way, coaches will have the opportunity to better prepare the participants for their race.

PHILADELPHIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS EVENTS

4x75y Shuttle Relay: Fourth Grade, Friday; Sections against time (prize #10). Fifth Grade, Friday; Sections against time (prize #10). Sixth Grade, Friday; Sections against time (prize #10). Spiked shoes are not allowed.

PHILADELPHIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RULES & REGULATIONS
Schools are encouraged to enter this meet. However, participation is on a voluntary basis and substitute service cannot be provided. Please be advised that Central Administration has granted permission for schools to participate. With the permission of the school’s Principal, a staff member will be permitted to sponsor a team(s) and attend the “Relays”. Please feel free to contact jnihillphilasd@comcast.net if you need clarification.

Entry of Elementary School or Middle School Shuttle Run Team
1. To participate, an online entry form is provided at the end of this article. All registrations must be received by April 18, 2025 at 3:00pm.
2. This event is conducted on the infield turf and not on the regular track. Scheduled time is 12:00 p.m. Teams must be ready to assemble in the lower sections of SA or SB by 11:45 p.m. Schools may enter a team of fourth, fifth or sixth grade children. If a school is entering a team that consists of students from more than one grade, the team must be entered at the higher grade level. For example, if there are three fifth graders and one sixth grade student on the team, the team must be registered as a sixth grade team.
Supervisory Committee Rules
1. Participating students must secure parental permission to compete (Form EH80). Pupils participating in the regular physical education program without medical restriction shall be considered to be medically cleared for participation.
2. Any pupil may be prohibited from competition at the discretion of the Principal.
3. A pupil shall not represent his school on a day when he has been absent from school, except by permission of the Principal.
4. Pupils must be academically eligible according to School District policy.
5. A student who is entered in the 4×100 relay may not be entered into the shuttle relay for their school.
6. In the 300 yard shuttle relay race participants must be:
  1. 12 years or younger for 6th graders
  2. 11 years or younger for 5th graders
  3. 10 years or younger for 4th graders
General Regulations
1. Participants in the 300 yard shuttle relay must wear either rubber soled track shoes or sneakers.
2. Participants must wear proper uniforms. This includes matching shirts and shorts.
General Information
1. Each team (4 pupils) is divided into two groups (1 & 3) and (2 & 4)
2. 1 & 3 stand facing 2 & 4 – 75 yards apart.
3. At the gun, student #1 runs forward and passes the baton to student #2. This student runs forward and passes the baton to student #3.
4. This process continues until student #4 crosses the finish line.
5. NOTE: Special officials will be monitoring all starts and baton passes. Seconds will be added to team’s final time for jumping, starts or passes.
General Instructions
1. Pupils should wear sufficient top clothing for adequate protection in case of inclement weather conditions while waiting before and after their races.
2. On arrival, all coaches should pick up their team packets from staff outside of Section EA. This section is located on South Street next to the river.
3. All schools will be seated in sections SA or SB.
4. Approximately one hour before the race is scheduled, all Shuttle Teams should assemble in the lower sections of SA and SB
5. The teams will be summoned to the field area. They will enter the field by going down the steps and proceeding to the field through the gate next to the number area. Athletes will be taken to the proper starting points by event officials.
6. Coaches are not permitted on to the field. Security personnel will be notified and participating teams from that school will be disqualified.
7. As soon as the races have been completed, all participants will be return to the grandstand by the personnel on the field.
8. Coaches should make provision for securing valuables of their pupils.

Please be reminded that many times the races run ahead of schedule. Keep alert for your event.

For 2025 each school is permitted to enter:

Fourth Grade Team (One)
Fifth Grade Team (One)
Sixth Grade Team (One)

Each school is permitted to enter up to 3 teams this year.
All teams must be COED
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We can be reached at jnihillphilasd@comcast.net

It is our intention to post updates for schools that have completed the registration process on our site. In addition we will also be posting the tentative Heat and Lane Assignments. This listing will be posted on or before the Monday of the Penn Relays. In this way, coaches will have the opportunity to better prepare the participants for their race.