Celebrate the 125th Running of The Penn Relays

125^th Relays Celebratory Events
April 2019
Tuesday, April 23
        CYO Night
Thursday, April 25
        Day 1 of competition
    Friday, April 26
Day 2 of competition
        Penn Relays Officials Reception
    Saturday, April 27
      Day 3 of competition
      Penn Track and Field Alumni Reception
More events coming soon!

Memorabilia
125th anniversary commemorative merchandise will be available soon!

A Brief History
On April 20, 1895 the Penn Relays provided a place for the new competition of relay racing to be run, creating a milestone in sports history. The first team to win a Penn Relays championship was Harvard University men's team defeating the University of Pennsylvania in the 4x440 yard relay. In 1910 the term Carnival was added to the name of the race to reflect the atmosphere created by the tent camps around the Franklin Field. In 1914 the Relays became an international event when Oxford University crossed the Atlantic to compete. During the modern era of the Relays over 15,000 male and female athletes compete in high school, college, Olympic development and professional races. Across the three days of competition over 100,000 fans travel to Franklin Field to watch the action. The Penn Relays have become a marquee event in Caribbean culture which was further intensified in 2000 with the first USA vs. the Worlds race. The race has become a fan favorite on Day 3 of competition, allowing fans to see some of the best runners in the world compete. The annual event has become the longest running track and field event in the history of the sport.

Penn Relays Timeline

Did You Know?

In 1895 there were only 44 states in the United States
In 1898 the University of Chicago was the first western college to attend
The Penn Relays pre-dates the NCAA by 26 years
The Penn Relays were integrated from the beginning
In 1911 the meet expanded nationally to create the "Championship of America" moniker utilized in college and high school championship events
In 1914 international teams traveled to the Penn Relays by ship
In 1926 the use of electronic loudspeakers replaced announcers with megaphones working on the infield
In 1936 Texas Government Officials sent the University of Texas to compete at the Penn Relays as a method of promoting the state of Texas in the Northeast
The evolution of the aluminum baton can be traced back to the Penn Relays

Relays Through the Years Photo Gallery - Coming Soon!

Famous Penn Relays Alumnus
Many educators, actors, professional, inventors and professional athletes got their start at the Penn Relays. The relays has had seven Rhodes Fellows, 22 Sullivan Award Recipients and 12 political figures compete throughout the 125 years including:

Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin
Paul Robeson
Bayard Rustin
Don Quarrie
Jim Thorpe
A.C. Gilbert - the inventor of the Erector Set
Roscoe Lee Brown
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs
Luke Wilson
Wilt Chamberlain
Eric Lidell
Charley Paddock
Lord David Burghley
Bernie Sanders
Jim Cramer

Tell Us Your Story
The Penn Relays fans are the best track and field fans in the world and we want to celebrate our fan's stories during the 125^th Anniversary of the Penn Relays.
Have you been coming to the Relays for years? Is this part of a family tradition? Did you meet your partner at the Relays? Make lifelong friends? Tell us your story for a chance to be featured during the 125^th Running of The Penn Relays. Click here for more information.