2016 Penn Relays

2016 Penn Relays Will Be LIVE on FloTrack! Let's Remember The 2015 Magic

2016 Penn Relays Will Be LIVE on FloTrack! Let's Remember The 2015 Magic

The Penn Relays is one of those bucket-list events that every diehard track fan needs to attend at least once in their life. With the largest collection of

Apr 5, 2016 by Lincoln Shryack
2016 Penn Relays Will Be LIVE on FloTrack! Let's Remember The 2015 Magic
The Penn Relays is one of those bucket-list events that every diehard track fan needs to attend at least once in their life. With the largest collection of athletes at any track event worldwide— a mix of world-class pros, top collegians, and promising preps— competing at historic Franklin Field over three action-packed days, Penn is a spectacle like no other. Just check out these stats: 22,000 entrants annually. One race every five minutes. 121 years of track and field. You really need to see it all, and feel the buzz firsthand, to believe it.

Penn Relays 2016

But for those of you who can’t make it to Philly for the 122nd edition from April 28th-30th, we’ve got you covered. FloSports is proud to announce that for the third straight year, FloTrack will be LIVE from Franklin Field Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, bringing you every heart-stopping second of this one-of-a-kind sporting carnival.

And while we get ready for this year’s extravaganza, and since I have your attention, let’s take a journey back to the 2015 madness. I remember it like it was yesterday. The sound of the Saturday crowd still rings in my ears. 

Anyways, here are my five favorite moments from last year, all from names (or schools) who will return for the 2016 event.

1. The Relay To End All Relays (aka The Men’s Championship of America 4xMile)
 
In honor of Villanova’s last-second, Crying Jordan meme-exacerbating victory in Monday’s NCAA National Championship game (and since this was truly one of the top track moments of 2015, period), ‘Nova’s 4xMile crown stands atop everything else here. You can read my full recounting of the unforgettable race, or you can just watch it now. I like to replay it every few months just because.


 
There is probably no way to top what we saw in 2015, but with Villanova and Oregon returning, it would simply be a cruel and unusual punishment if an Edward Cheserek vs. Jordy Williamsz rematch did not unfold.

2. Drew Hunter Joins The Matthew Centrowitz Club

When Drew Hunter won the Penn Relays high school mile last year in 4:07, joining a future World champ as the only prep to win the mile and 3,000m at this event, we had no idea that he would soon become one of the greatest high school distance runners in history. But since that race nearly a year ago, the Oregon signee has beaten Grant Fisher, dominated at Foot Locker, smashed the high school 3k record, and broken the high school indoor mile record twice in a row.

Hunter's win at Penn last year:



After his 3:57.81 at Millrose, Hunter said “I think Penn Relays is a realistic time for me to start my outdoor season.” The 18-year-old’s presence is not 100% confirmed as of yet, but I’ll take his word for it. I can’t say for sure which event, but my guess would be the Olympic Development mile.

3. Annie Leblanc Becomes Kicking Royalty

Not all kicks are created equal, as distance covered and quality of the opponent (read: victim) combine to form a come-from-behind pecking order. Annie Leblanc’s thunderous close for Oregon in last year’s sprint medley relay was the gold standard of both of those factors as she mowed down NCAA 800m champion Natoya Goule despite entering the final straight with a seemingly insurmountable deficit.



We’ll see the Ducks, and surely Leblanc as an anchor, back at Franklin Field in 2016.

4. King Cheserek Still Made His Mark

Kind of like Marcus Paige’s acrobatic three-pointer last night, Edward Cheserek’s winning anchor leg in the distance medley relay will always be overshadowed by what came after it. But classic King Ches it was, and if anyone tries to make it fast on him this year... well, we know he can handle that just fine, too.


5. Jamaican Stars

The Jamaicans have dominated the high school relays since they first started coming to Franklin Field back in the 60s, and this year should really be no different. The crown jewel of them all, the 4x400, was won by the Calabar boys last season in 3:09.97—third-fastest in meet history— in less-than-ideal conditions. Here’s that race: 



The squad will be back with a talented quartet headlined by World Youth champion/the fastest 15-year-old ever, Christopher Taylor. He wasn’t in Philly last year, but let me tell you what, we’re in for a treat in 2016 as he figures to make his presence known on U.S. soil.

This kid is something special.  

Last summer, Taylor came within .03 seconds of Kirani James’ World Youth Championships record by running 45.27 to win gold. That’s mighty impressive by itself, but the kicker is that Taylor was more than a year younger than James (the 2012 Olympic champion) was when he ran his time. If you’re keeping score at home, Taylor is on pace to be one of the all-time greats.



Jamaica’s next superstar -- dare I say, next Usain Bolt? (no pressure) -- could be a 400m runner named Christopher Taylor. With him on their team, I suspect Calabar will once again reign supreme in the Penn Relays 4x400 in 2016.