April 23, 2009
The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s track & field teams will head to the prestigious Penn Relays this weekend in Philadelphia, Penn. ESPN2 will broadcast the final day of competition from 4-6 p.m.
In its 114-year history, the Carnival has provided competition for more athletes than any other track meet in the world. During the past ten years, more than 100,000 young men and women from high schools, colleges, clubs, the armed services, preparatory schools, junior high schools, middle schools, parochial schools, and elementary schools have competed in the Carnival. The athletes range in age from under eight to over 80.
“The Penn Relays is one of the biggest meets every year and we’re always excited to be apart of it,” women’s head coach Alan Drosky said. “The competition is always excellent and the crowds will approach 35,000. A great performance brings a roar that would rival a fall Saturday afternoon in the South.”
The 2009 Penn Relays will get underway Thursday at 10 a.m. with the College Women’s 400-meter Hurdles Championship and College Women High Jump. Thursday evening has been designated Distance Night and will kick-off at 5:25 p.m. with the College women’s distance medley. Friday’s events begin with the College Men 400-meter Hurdles at 9 a.m. On Saturday, the day will commence with the Olympic Development Men 10k Racewalk at 7 a.m.
The Tech women are coming off a sixth-place performance at the ACC Outdoor Championships last weekend, led by All-ACC honorees sophomore Erica Penk (pole vault) and freshman Terri Ann Grant (high jump).
The Jacket men placed fourth at last week’s ACC Championships, their highest finish since the 2005 season. Seniors E.C. Gibbs (1500m) and Jerome Miller (high jump) along with juniors Alphonso Jordan (triple jump) and Steve Marcelle (shot put) picked up All-ACC Honors at the meet, while Jordan, Marcelle and Miller won titles in their respective events.
Information and results will be available on the official Penn Relays website.