The Penn Relays

By: Simon Bowen

Today at the Penn Relays is not just an ordinary day. Jamaicans from all walks of life take this event seriously and thus, mark this on their calendar each year.

When you visit the Penn Relays and see all those Jamaican flags flying in the air, it’s not only symbolic, but emotional. Our history dates back to the days of Herb McKenley and George Rhoden, Merlene Ottey, Veronica Campbell and Asafa Powell. These people are all reasons why we make this event a national one.

Our pride as Jamaicans goes far back, we run to show that we can do anything once given the opportunity and it’s one of the main reasons why we compete at the Penn Relays — to showoff the world-class athletes of our proud nation.

As a former athlete, there’s no better feeling than showing up to the Relays prepared, and then going out there and putting pain on your opponent’s faces.

In Jamaica, high schoolers train like Olympians, competing each year for a spot to be here and for colleges across the United States to see their talent.

Once you compete in the Penn Relays, you become a high school superstar back home on the island.

Another main reason this event is so important to Jamaicans is the media coverage and exposure that it provides to the country. Jamaica is a big tourist destination with a national economy that relies on the tourism industry. Because of this, several Jamaican sponsors such as Grace Kennedy, Jamaican National Building Society make this trip in order to target Jamaican citizens living here in the states.

So this trip is not only about a sporting event and national pride, it’s also about business!

Simon is a native Jamaican who ran at the Penn Relays from 1992-96 while a student-athlete at George Mason University. In 1993, he anchored the Patriot’s sprint medley College Men’s Championship of America team, defeating Olympian Tony Parrilla of Tenessee on the anchor leg.

Local runner returns (again) to compete in Olympic Development USA vs. the World Sprint Medley Relay

Reported by Jennifer Reardon, Temple University

After spending her high school and college years competing at the Penn Relays, Haddonfield Memorial High and University of North Carolina graduate Erin Donohue returned to the Penn Relays on Saturday to compete in the Olympic Development USA vs. the World Sprint Medley Relay.

“I’ve been coming here since even before high school,” Donohue said. “My dad would take me to watch the races. For me, I’ve been racing at meets all around the world now and this is still my favorite because of the crowd and how it brings together high schools, colleges, and professionals. It feels great just to be able to come back here year after year.”

Donohue has been doing just that and, to top it all off, has won at each level. As a high school senior she finished in the top spot in the mile run. As a Tar Heel, she competed in the 4X800. Last year Donohue won the mile in the women’s Olympic Development event, which led to her inclusion in 2008’s Olympic Development USA vs. the World Sprint Medley Relay.

“I always like the relays because I played team sports in high school like soccer and basketball,” Donohue said. “A lot of times you never have that same kind of camaraderie that you have in team sports when you’re running. So it’s kind of nice to be on a team and be rooting for somebody else besides myself, too. “

Despite her team’s (USA Blue) last place finish, Donohue still has a lot to look forward to in the upcoming weeks including, possibly, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

“Next week I’m looking forward to going down to Jamaica and Jamaica Internationals in Kingston and running the 800,” Donohue said. “The girl who anchored for Jamaica today [Kenia Sinclair] is going to be there. Hopefully it’ll be a good race and I can do well. I think I have as good a chance as anybody [in the Jamaica Internationals and in making the Summer Olympics]. I’ve been racing really well. I just have to stay on top of my training and I think I’m going to give it a good shot.”