The dates for the 113th running of the Penn Relay Carnival are set for the last weekend in April of 2008, April 22-26 at historic Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania. Following one of the most successful Penn Relays in 2007 the 2008 Penn Relays promise to carry on the tradition of track & field excellence that has long been associated with the Penn Relay Carnival.
For 113 years the annual Penn Relay Carnival has not only been America's largest track meet, but the world's first and most recognized relay meet. The presence and prestige of the Relays is extremely significant, as the Relays are a rite of spring in the Philadelphia community and in the greater track & field world at large. The Relays are also the place where track fans gather to see tomorrow's Olympic stars.
Every April, the Penn Relays draw many of the nation's - and the world's - top track athletes to Franklin Field. Relays participants have won gold medals in every modern (summer) Olympic Games except the 1980 Moscow games, which the United States boycotted. In the most recent Olympics, the 2004 Athens Games, 23 Relays alumni won gold medals, either individually or as members of relay teams. At the 2000 Sydney Games, 22 Relays alums took home gold.
This year, during some 33 hours of competition on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, more than 300 events will take place, an average of more than one event every five minutes. This includes more than two dozen distance races which require ten minutes or more for actual running.
Tickets for the 2008 Penn Relays are now on sale. You can get all of the information you need on ordering tickets on the offical Web site for the 2008 Penn Relays.
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