18 Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer CHARLOTTE, NC: A NUMBER of changes have been made to this year’s Penn Relays Carnival (PRC) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin Stadium, Philadelphia between April 27-29. However, one aspect of the highly anticipated, three-day, weekend of the track and field programme that will not be affected is the Hall of Fame induction ceremony which will immortalise the extraordinary performances of three individuals and three relay teams, making up the Class of 2023. Topping the 2023 Class is Jamaican Yohan Blake and his 2007 High School sprint relay team from St Jago, in St Catherine. The citation notes that, ‘as a high school junior in 2007, Yohan Blake anchored St Jago’s 4x100m relay teamof AndreWalsh, Riker Hylton, and Nickel Ashmeade, to a 39.96 winning time, setting a Penn Relays high school record and becoming the first high school team to break 40 seconds at the carnival. Returning three years later to the revered site, then as a member of Jamaica’s national team, he ran a blistering second leg on the winning USA vs the World team with training mate Usain Bolt anchoring. Jamaica’s winning time, in front of what remains the largest crowd in Relays history, was 37.90 seconds, and it remains the Carnival record. Another inductee will be Sonia O’Sullivan who won six Penn Relays watches while competing for Villanova University in the latter 1980s to the mid-1990s, in distance relays. Her lead-off on the winning DMR in 1990, sparked the win as Villanova missed their own record by less than one second. The time remained the fastest in the world for 18 years. Competing for the Great Mills High School of Maryland in 1990, senior Tanya Hughes broke the Penn Relays high jump record with a clearance of 6-0½ (1.84 metres). Hughes broke a six-year-old record then, and her mark still stands 33 years later. The jump was Hughes’ best of the season and was the second-highest clearance by an American high-schooler. She is the third inductee. The 2009 Texas A&Mmen’s 4x100m relay team of Tran Howell, Gerald Phiri, Chris Dykes, and Justin Oliver ran 38.79, the second-fastest time ever at that point. The foursome, coached by Pat Henry, won the fastest race for depth to that time, with the first three teams breaking 39 seconds. The 2007 Michigan women’s distance relay (4x1500m) team ran the fastest time in world history, and broke the 17-year-old Penn Relays and national collegiate record. Coached by Mike McGuire, the team of Katie Erdman, Geena Gall, AnnaWillard and Canadian Nicole Edwards, ran 17:15.62 to break the old record by two and one-half seconds. Third leg Anna Willard was named the Relays College Relay athlete of the meet. Started in 1994, to mark the 100th running of the Penn Relays, this year’s announcement of the 28th Class of Inductees to the Penn Relays Wall of Fame, brings the number of individuals to 123, and 112 relay teams, each selected by a panel of Penn Relays historians. The induction ceremony will take place in centre field on Saturday afternoon, April 29. NEW JERSEY: GRACE FOODS has announced that it has renewed its partnership with the Penn Relays Carnival over the next three years. The 2023 track and field meet, which will be held between April 27 and 29 at the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Franklin Field, is now in its 127th year and continues to be an excellent opportunity for Jamaican high school athletes to showcase their prowess on an international stage. DonWehby, Group CEO of GraceKennedy (GK), the parent company of Grace Foods, explained: “Sports is one of the greatest vehicles to promote fairplay, discipline, and a drive for excellence among youth. GraceKennedy’s support of youth sporting activities is well-known. We view this support as a major investment in nation building – an investment in our youth, our schools, sports development, and our country.” The 2023 Penn Relays Carnival will be staged a month after the spectacular ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys & Girls’ Championships, popularly called ‘Champs’, which is the foundation event for Jamaican junior track and field athletes, many of whom go on to the Penn Relays to further showcase their talents. Wehby continued: “Our support of Champs in Jamaica began 16 years ago in 2007 and is our single largest sponsorship anywhere in the world. We are proud to continue our support of Champs and of the Penn Relays Carnival year after year. Each year, these meets set the stage for the youth of our nation to showcase their talent in track and field not only to Jamaica, but to the world.” INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE At the 2023 Penn Relays, Grace Foods will sponsor eight championship races, including the High School Girls’4x100m and 4x400mChampionship of America; the High School Boys’ 400m Hurdles Championship; the High School Boys’ 4x100m, 4x400m, Distance Medley and the 4x800m Championship of America; as well as the College Men’s 4x200m Championship of America. Grace Foods’ sponsorship also includes onsite sampling and giveaways. “We are happy to continue our sponsorship of the Penn Relays, which spans over a decade,” said Andrea Coy, CEO of GK Foods International. “The Relays offer our athletes well-needed international exposure, and the opportunity to engage with athletes, coaches and volunteers from across the region. It also gives Grace Foods the chance to exhibit our products and engage with our consumers who attend the event from all across the United States,” she added. Scott Ward, executive director of the Penn Relays, is equally thrilled about the renewed collaboration. He said, “We are excited to continue our longstanding partnership with Grace Foods. Their significant presence every year at the Penn Relays adds to the festive atmosphere in Carnival Village and their support towards our Jamaican and Caribbean participants and fans is magnificent. We look forward to partnering with GraceKennedy at the Penn Relays for many years to come.” Grace Foods renews partnership with Penn relays Wall of Fame nod for Olympian Yohan Blake, St Jago team at Penn Relays BLAKE Yohan Blake competes in the men’s 100m semi-finals in the 2019 IAAF World Athletic Championships held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, September 28, 2019. GLADSTONE TAYLOR/MULTIMEDIA PHOTO EDITOR Scott Ward. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Don Wehby THE WEEKLY GLEANER | APRIL 17 - MAY 23, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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