Some things change, but some traditions only grow stronger.
This year marks the 129th running of the Penn Relay Carnival, a meet where history is made year after year. With more than 100,000 spectators expected to flood Franklin Field over the three-day spectacle and over 1,400 high school athletes competing in the iconic 4x100-meter and 4x400m relays, the energy will be electric.
For Steve Dolan — who wears two hats as the Frank Dolson Director of the Penn Relays and head coach of Penn track and field — it’s more than just a meet. It’s a moment where Penn and Philadelphia take center stage and become the epicenter of the future of track and field.
At a Penn Relays press conference on April 17, several track and field program directors from universities across the United States discussed their outlook for this year’s event. Participants included Marcus O’Sullivan of Villanova, Pat Henry of Texas A&M, Maurica Powell of the University of Washington, and Mark Elliott of Clemson. Texas A&M currently boasts the No. 1 men’s and women’s track and field programs.
“We get to see people we don’t get to see usually in the year. That’s a big part of it,” Henry said. “The experience they get here is different than anywhere [else]. It’s not just a tradition, it’s woven into the fabric of the sport.”
Philadelphia runs the world
The press conference made clear that Penn — and by extension, Philadelphia — is making a bold claim as a driving force in the growth of track and field. From hosting the iconic Penn Relays to organizing over 50 indoor meets this year alone, Penn has positioned itself at the very heart of the sport’s present and future.
The Penn Relays have drawn some of the best athletes in the world to train over the years, with this year’s events slated to have a record number of former Olympians. Track and field stars will make their Penn Relays debuts, including rising forces such as middle-distance runner Will Sumner, USC alumna and University of Georgia sprints and hurdles assistant coach Bailey Lear, UVA alumnus and NCAA champion Shane Cohen, among many more.
Some other top competitors are familiar faces, including high jumper Vashti Cunningham and middle-distance runner and Philadelphia native Ajeé Wilson. 2020 Penn graduate Nia Akins — a recent 2024 Paris Olympian — has been a staple of the Olympic Development events over the past few years.
“It’s very exciting to see Nia. … We’re very fortunate because she just moved back and is back training in Philadelphia,” Dolan said. “As a Penn grad, it’s exciting to see her.”
Not only is Penn home to the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, but Penn will also be one of the sites for the inaugural Grand Slam track meet in late May. The premier event, founded by Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, brings together the fastest men and women in the world.
“We got a vision like a decade ago, saying because of the success of the Penn Relays, for so many years, we think that Penn could be a major hub for track and field, and we continue to take steps towards that,” Dolan said. “This year, we’re hosting the Grand Slam. … We’re excited to bring some world-class athletes here in Philadelphia to Penn and host the event.”
Holding down the fort at home
As director of the Penn Relays, Dolan will oversee track and field schools and athletes from 28 countries who come to Philadelphia to race. As the head coach of Penn’s track and field team, Dolan has confidence in its ability to perform alongside premier competitors from across the world.
“Penn Relays is a really special experience. And for the Penn home team, we really love to compete. I anticipate a lot of jumping up in our level of performance because it’s at home,” Dolan said. “[The team is] super excited. They just get that extra adrenaline and confidence. … I think we’ll raise our level at Penn Relays, something we seem to do every year.”
Indeed, the Penn team is expected to excel in key events. Junior throwing specialist Angeludi Asaah is currently ranked among the top 30 and top 20 in the shot put and discus events, respectively, and is expected to earn high marks at this year’s Penn Relays. Dolan also expressed faith in the legacy of the 4x400m relay teams, thanks to some recent strong performances. Sophomore sprint and hurdles specialist Ryan Matulonis and sophomore sprints specialist Nayyir Newash-Campbell — who recently broke a 93-year Penn record in the 400m race — have both split 46 seconds in the 400m race.
Records across the board
They say no two years at the Penn Relays are ever the same — and 2025 is proving that in record-breaking fashion.
This year’s meet will feature all eight Ivy League schools, a record twelve programs from the Atlantic Coast Conference, and athletes representing 28 countries. But perhaps most impressive is the unprecedented number of Olympians and elite athletes descending on Franklin Field.
From high school standouts to Olympic medalists, the eyes of the global track and field community will turn to one city, one campus, and one tradition — proving once again that when it comes to track and field, all roads lead to Penn.
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