Penn Relays

2019 marks the 125^th running of The Penn Relays. Over the years the competitors, fans and officials have developed memories that last a lifetime.  Here are some of their stories. If you have a story to tell or a memory to share, click here!

---

Dr. Cliff Bertrand   Athlete 1960-1962, Spectator beginning in 1970 "The Penn Relays has always been the center of my athletic achievement and pride along with my accomplishments in the Olympic, AAU, NCAA, Pan American Games, British Empire and Commonwealth Games, IC4A ‘S, Metropolitan Collegiate Association and Milrose games. That was my package! My greatest moment was in 1962 the weekend my team from NYU won the Metropolitan College 4x400 relay on Friday, the College Championship of America Sprint Medley Relay and the College Championship of America 4x440 relay on Saturday. Two famous media writers Jesse Abramson and Joseph M.Sheehan captured the moments that bind me to the Penn Relays and anointed me as a Penn Relay family. The Penns, for me, has a build-in motivation factor; incredibly meditative opportunity for developing athletes. It provides a theater for athletic performances where performers and spectators unite to enjoy the will in action for the agony and the ecstasy of athletic endeavor. At age 83 I still attend the Penn Relays on the last Saturday in April each year to re-experience my past performance!"

---

Leon Briscoe, Jr      Longtime fan from Section EE "My Dad, Leon Briscoe, Sr, participated as an Athlete, Fan & Sponsor of The Penn Relays since about 1934. He brought me out to my 1st Penn Relays at age 8, in 1958. He had a block of about 5 Reserved Saturday Seats in Sec. EE / Row 1. Above the Wall of Fame; at the final baton pass for the 4x100 Meter Relays! He passed them on to me, before he passed away in 2001. I have been fortunate & blessed to continue his legacy in Section EE. Long live The Penn Relays!!"

 

---

Ralph Jacob, Jr   Longtime fan "I have been coming to the Penn Relays every year since I was five years old in 1961 with my dad. I can remember when it was a dirt track. This was the beginning of our father-son tradition. I did not miss a Penn Relays with him until 1978. I have the fondest memories that have lasted a lifetime. My Dad always got us seats at the finish line, and over th years I have been afforded the opportunity to see some of the greatest track stars in the world.  The list goes on and one; Bob Hayes, Jim Ryan, Marty Liquori, Joetta Clark, right up to Usain Bolt. Rain or shine the Penn Relays is the greatest outdoor track meet in the world.  I have now continued the tradition with my wife. We have not missed a Penn Relays in five years. Every year I wait with great anticipation for the last weekend in April that always conjures up the excitement in watching the world's greatest track stars compete at the highest level."

 

Thomas Kolimago     Former athlete & spectator "My twin brother and I were high school freshman on the Lansdale Catholic track team in 1980 when we attended our first Penn Relays.  Our original plan that morning was to go fishing, but fortuitously our ride failed to show up. We didn’t really know what the Penn Relays was, but our coach had said he’d take a crew down to spectate, so we thus made the trip to Franklin Field. Despite it being a cold, raw day, we were mesmerized but the non-stop action on the track and were forever hooked. So much so that we haven’t missed a Saturday since that first Relays nearly 40 years ago.  While I’ve lived in the Philly area all this time, my brother has had to find a way back from Japan and Arizona in order to keep the streak alive.  He expects to come back from Australia this year for the Relays. We both also participated in the Relays as collegians in the 5000 meters while at St. Joseph's University and in various corporate DMRs, including Provident Bank. Favorite race memory (among many): the 1987 College Mens’ Distance Medley Championship of America Relay.  In a pouring rain, Mike Stahr of Georgetown outleaned Gerry O’Reilly of Villanova for the win in a world record time, with both runners outkicking Peter Rono of Mount Saint Mary’s (who went on about a year later to win the Olympic 1500 meters).  Of note, the leadoff runner for Georgetown was John Trautmann, who the year before broke the legendary Steve Prefeontaine’s high school 3000 meter record in a riveting run we witnessed at the Relays. You can be sure to find us at the Relays in the years to come with our fellow fans on the final turn, where we first viewed the Relays and do so to this day. "

 

Kevin Moran     Former staff member, coach & spectator "My family has been in the South Stands at the Pole Vault pit for more than 50 years. I first attended the Relays in the 1960's when my dad brought his teams from Wilkes-Barre Coughlin High to compete. I have been at every Relays Saturday since 1971. In the late 70's and early 80's, I worked in Press Row as an undergrad at Penn.  In the late 70's and early 80's, I worked in Press Row as an undergrad at Penn. In the mid 80's I brought athletes to Franklin Field as the track coach at Wilkes-Barre GAR. I enjoy the family atmosphere in the stands and seeing the same faces every April. I love that Penn Relays fans treat each and every race like it's the most important race of the day. I love the respect and appreciation they show every athlete - young or old, world class or middle school, winner or back of the pack competitor. We are the best track fans in the world!"

 

Dwight Green     Former athlete and spectator "In 2018 I celebrated 25 years of attending Penn Relays with my best friends from high school. We remember that day in 1993 when we graced the track as high school athletes and those memories will remain fresh in our minds. We don't have a head full of hair anymore but we are just as excited as we were 25 years ago."

Chris Merli     Former athlete and spectator "The 125th running of the Penn Relays will be my 55th consecutive year at the Relays since 1964 when my dad, Nick Merli brought me to my first relays when I was 12. It was a cinder track then. I remember watching Larry James run for White Plains HS and then 4 years later run the first sub 44.0 sec split on Villanova's COA 4x4 in '68. In 1967 I was a sophomore at Red Bank Catholic HS and led off the 4x4 on the new green all weather surface. I was injured when I was scheduled to run for the University of Maryland but was fortunate to be able to run a 200m leg on a sprint medley, for Shore AC as a post collegiate. I was the head coach at Red Bank Catholic in the mid '70's and brought relay teams to compete. My son attended the 1977 relays as an 18-month-old and witnessed Arizona St. with Norristown native Tony Darden, set carnival records that stood for years. One can find my son and I in Section SE in the first row behind the chair-backs, every Relays Saturday."

 

Delicia Adderley     Spectator "I started coming to Penn Relays with my dad when I was 12. Every year that was daddy/daughter weekend, even when he started officiating. He passed away in 2007 and I still go. I have a group of friends and family I still sit with in our same seats. Even the people in the row in front of us have become our friends and we enjoy our time watching records being broken and exciting 4 x 400s. It’s one of the best times of the year."

 

Taneisha Spall     Spectator "The 2019 Penn Relays will be the 7th year in a row that my mother and I will attend together. This has become an annual Mother/Daughter event that we both look forward to every year. It is a time for us to be together, have fun, and enjoy track and field in person. My mother is my best friend and I could not think of a better weekend to spend with her. We look forward too many more years of this annual event together!"