While the rising seniors paraded down Locust Walk for Hey Day festivities, the athletic complex by the Schuylkill mirrored the liveliness on campus. Visitors and competitors from across the country were gathered for day one of the 126th Penn Relays at the historical locus of Penn track and field, and after a three year hiatus, the return was warmly welcomed despite the wind chills.
Anticipation for Penn's first event led to the throwing field in the afternoon. Holding the program records in both the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw, senior thrower Mayyi Mahama competing in the College Women’s Hammer Throw Championship was one of the most anticipated events for Penn.
She faced stiff competition with Jillian Shippee from North Carolina and Madi Malone from Auburn, who are each in the top ten current rankings in the hammer throw this year. Still, Mahama held her ground to secure third place in the championship with a throw of 63.65 meters.
Most of the day was highlighted by the high school relays, with the High School Girls’ 4x800 small schools being the first event of the competition to launch from the starting line at 9:00 a.m. The High School Girls’ 4x400 heats then took center stage to run all afternoon.
At noon to set a comma amidst the high school relays, the masters events took over the track. Michael Kish of Shore AC put up 13.47 on the clock in the 70 and older 100m race, donning a pair of sunglasses as he raced past competitors from lane 5.
Friday will be the peak of Penn's events, including the highly anticipated College Women's 4x400 Championship of America scheduled for 3:25 p.m.
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