The men’s and women’s track & field teams will descend on Philadelphia today for the start of the three-day extravaganza that is the Penn Relays. Both teams have enjoyed immense success heading into the event — the most prestigious in the sport.
Boasting competition from 175 Division I programs and 300 Division II and III schools, the 107-year old event includes competitors ranging from age eight to over 80.
“Realistically, we have aspirations rather than firm expectations going into this meet,” men’s head coach Nathan Taylor said.
Field and long-distance events will be contested individually while short-distance competitions will take a relay format.
Taylor listed Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Stanford and Michigan among the favorites heading into the 33-hour long meet which will see some 425 plus races. On average, there will be more than one race every five minutes.
Seniors Max King (steeplechase) and Scott Lundy (pole vault) along with junior Scott Benowitz (javelin) are tabbed as potential standouts for the Red.
But Taylor cautioned that for any Cornellian to make it to Saturday’s final would be a “tremendous feat.”
Lead by head man Lou Duesing, the women’s team enters the Relays coming off a decisive victory over Pennsylvania in which it took 15 of 19 events.
Continuing with a season that has seen multiple program records fall, the women will be lead by junior sprinter Katy Jay and sophomore Merili Mosley.
The Sun will have full coverage of the Penn Relays in Monday’s edition.
Archived article by Gary Schueller