In Review

Members of the track and field teams are preparing to compete in one of the most famous meets in the world—the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Founded in 1895, the three-day event from April 28 to 30 at the University of Pennsylvania is considered the longest uninterrupted annual collegiate track meet in the country, and is expected to draw 22,000 athletes from around the world who qualify for the competition.

“We decided that we had some high-level athletes this year who would benefit from competing in a high-caliber meet such as this,” says Sam Albert ’01, ’02W (MS), the director of track and field and cross country at Rochester.

With the team coming off a successful indoor winter season, Albert says he expects up to 40 Yellowjackets—15 to 20 each from the men’s and women’s teams—to qualify.

The total depends on the entry standards, which will be published in mid-April.

As of the end of March, the team was scheduled to compete at St. John Fisher College that same weekend, so athletes who don’t compete at the Penn Relays will also be in action.

The trip to Philadelphia is supported by the Hale Fund for Competitive Excellence, which was created in 2012 in recognition of longtime track and field and cross country coach Timothy Hale, and has been supported by alumni and friends of the University.

Albert says competing among some of the best college track and field athletes in the country is an extraordinary experience.

“The Penn Relays meet is really just an additional special opportunity that we are able to offer some of our most elite athletes,” he says.

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Taylor is a communications assistant in the Department of Athletics and Recreation.