Penn Relays granted World Athletics Silver tour status
SENIOR ATHLETES competing at the 128th staging of the Penn Relays, scheduled for Franklin Field, Philadelphia, from April 2527, will have added motivation.
The Penn Relays office, in a recent media release, announced that the popular meet has now been granted World Athletics Continental Tour Silver status. It will be one of five Silver or Gold events in the United States.
Director of Penn Relays, Steve Dolan, is delighted with the latest change.
“The Penn Relays’ partnership with On [Swiss Performance Running Shoes and Clothing brand] has been a key component in our ability to attract and host some of the best track and field athletes in the world over the years,” said Dolan.
“The Olympic development events, a regular fixture at the meet, and the global relays are sure to provide an incredible occasion for the elite competitions and the experience for the elite competitors and the spirited crowd in Franklinfield,” he said.
With the meet’s new status, athletes will get more World Athletics points toward Olympic Games qualification as well as world-ranking points.
The 12 elite events that will now move to Silver status are men’s and women’s 400 metres, men’s and women’s 800 metres, men’s mile, women’s 1500 metres, men’s and women’s high jump, and men’s and women’s 4x100 and 4x400-metre relays.
Jamaica is expected to be a part of both the men’s and women’s relay competition as teams will also use the occasion to warm up for the World Relays, which takes place on the following weekend in The Bahamas.