Apr23
Today marks the beginning of yet another Penn Relays. For those of you who might not know, the Penn Relays are the oldest relay carnival in the world. Each year, athletes from across the United States, Jamaica, and other countries flock to West Philadelphia to vie for a coveted Penn Relays plaque. Tomorrow will, most likely, be my final Penn Relays. Since I started running track in January of 2003, Penn Relays has always been one of my favorite meets to attend. The atmosphere is unparalleled, there are professional athletes and celebrities alike throughout the stadium, and the opportunity to “whoop” someone couldn’t be better than at Franklin Field. With that said, I have decided to go back in time and relive my Penn Relays performances: 2003 4x100m: Me, Dave Peters, Tracy Robinson, and JT Markland comprised a team of young, hungry sprinters. I ran leadoff that year and handed off to Dave. I remember our handoff being decent, but not spectacular. Dave thundered down the backstretch and handed off to JT, which seemed to go OK. JT ran a decent curve and handed off to Tracy who blew out the anchor from TC Williams in Virginia. Outcome: Henderson wins heat (43.81) 4x400m: The same four guys comprised our 4x400m relay. This was the better of our two relays at Penn. JT Markland led off this time in an acceptable 51.9. Dave Peters decided to run like a fool on this day — sprinting the curves and “relaxing” on the straightaways. Well, at any rate, Dave clocked a 52.2. I received the baton in 5th place and got to work in a hurry. It was my first year of track, so I really didn’t know how to run a 400m. Back then, I used to sit and kick for my life. With 150m to go I made a strong move, advancing us to third and splitting a 51.2. From there, Tracy Robinson went to work and brought it home for us in a very impressive 48.9. Outcome: Henderson wins Surburban ‘A’ Title (3:24.95) 2004 4x100m: This was a different year for the Warriors, and we had hopes of advancing to the Championship of America race. The team consisted of myself, Reese Adams, Chris Patterson, and Tracy Robinson — 3/4 of the group that ran a PA #1, US #7 4x200m at the Armory in January. Anyway, the gun went off and Reese was out well — establishing Henderson as the top team in the heat. Reese handed off to Tracy — the 2004 PIAA AAA State Champion (400m) — who flew down the backstretch, handing off to Chris. Chris ran a virtually solo curve, making sure no one was even close. I brought an untouched relay home out of lane 9, leaving no doubts that Henderson wasn’t playing around. The problem was that we won by over a full-second, so our time was just short of advancing to the large school final later in the day. Outcome: Henderson wins heat (43.05) 4x400m: As lopsided as the 4x100m was, the 4x400m was might have been worse. I started off the relay in a solo 49.4 effort. I handed off to Dave Peters with a huge lead and he did not disappoint — logging a 50.3 leg. Next was Travis Taltoan, a newcomer to the team. Travis went out relatively hard, but faded pretty hard, too — running a 53.6. Still, with that said, Tracy was running solo and brought it home for our second-consecutive championship in 49.1. Outcome: Henderson wins Surburban ‘A’ Title (3:23.26) — Advanced to ‘Large School Championship 4x400m Final: Well, to be honest, I didn’t want to run this relay. I was tired and already talked to some college coaches who were pleased with my performance earlier that day. At any rate, we lined up for the race with only two of our runners having warmed up. I sloppily led off, leaving Henderson in the middle of the pack. My split was told to be 51.5, but it could have been slower for all I know. Dave P. ran another solid 50-point to keep us competitive. Travis ran a little better than he did in the earlier race — splitting 52.5. Tracy ran his ass off, catching a few guys, but it was too late. We earned another Penn Relays medal, but I pretty much let the team down. Outcome: Henderson — 5th Place Large School Final (3:26.xx) 2005 4x400m: A Freshman at La Salle University, I wanted to come out and run hard. I did just that. After two sub-par legs to start the relay, I got the baton and started churning. I logged a 48.7 split — catching two guys in the process. Dave Hall, our anchor, ran a nice 48-point to help seal the deal, but, in all, it wasn’t a good relay. Outcome: La Salle — 5th Place (3:25.xx) 2006 I missed this Penn Relays as I was in a medical redshirt season. Boo injuries. 2007 4x100m: This rainy affair was one to forget. I went as an alternate for our 4x100m, who advanced to the IC4A Championship race the next day. The guys ran pretty well that day. Keith Burke, Steve Rendall, Ryan Moseley, and James Tchabo. 2008 4x100m: Another Penn Relays to forget. Christ. They shot the gun when two of our legs weren’t even in the right position as they were setting tape. It was absurd. At any rate, our first leg, James Thomas, ran sub-par. Steve Rendall received the baton and did the best he could to keep us competitive. He handed off to Tchabo who ran a solid third leg. I received the baton out of striking distance to get our team the win. To my recollection, we finished 4th in the heat. Let’s see if we can’t put something together for tomorrow. I would enjoy nothing more than a great effort and a SB from the team. It will be nice to go out there and mix-it-up once again with the best from the NCAA.

Today marks the beginning of yet another Penn Relays. For those of you who might not know, the Penn Relays are the oldest relay carnival in the world. Each year, athletes from across the United States, Jamaica, and other countries flock to West Philadelphia to vie for a coveted Penn Relays plaque.

Tomorrow will, most likely, be my final Penn Relays. Since I started running track in January of 2003, Penn Relays has always been one of my favorite meets to attend. The atmosphere is unparalleled, there are professional athletes and celebrities alike throughout the stadium, and the opportunity to “whoop” someone couldn’t be better than at Franklin Field.

With that said, I have decided to go back in time and relive my Penn Relays performances:

2003

4x100m: Me, Dave Peters, Tracy Robinson, and JT Markland comprised a team of young, hungry sprinters. I ran leadoff that year and handed off to Dave. I remember our handoff being decent, but not spectacular. Dave thundered down the backstretch and handed off to JT, which seemed to go OK. JT ran a decent curve and handed off to Tracy who blew out the anchor from TC Williams in Virginia. Outcome: Henderson wins heat (43.81)

4x400m: The same four guys comprised our 4x400m relay. This was the better of our two relays at Penn. JT Markland led off this time in an acceptable 51.9. Dave Peters decided to run like a fool on this day — sprinting the curves and “relaxing” on the straightaways. Well, at any rate, Dave clocked a 52.2. I received the baton in 5th place and got to work in a hurry. It was my first year of track, so I really didn’t know how to run a 400m. Back then, I used to sit and kick for my life. With 150m to go I made a strong move, advancing us to third and splitting a 51.2. From there, Tracy Robinson went to work and brought it home for us in a very impressive 48.9. Outcome: Henderson wins Surburban ‘A’ Title (3:24.95)

2004

4x100m: This was a different year for the Warriors, and we had hopes of advancing to the Championship of America race. The team consisted of myself, Reese Adams, Chris Patterson, and Tracy Robinson — 3/4 of the group that ran a PA #1, US #7 4x200m at the Armory in January. Anyway, the gun went off and Reese was out well — establishing Henderson as the top team in the heat. Reese handed off to Tracy — the 2004 PIAA AAA State Champion (400m) — who flew down the backstretch, handing off to Chris. Chris ran a virtually solo curve, making sure no one was even close. I brought an untouched relay home out of lane 9, leaving no doubts that Henderson wasn’t playing around. The problem was that we won by over a full-second, so our time was just short of advancing to the large school final later in the day. Outcome: Henderson wins heat (43.05)

4x400m: As lopsided as the 4x100m was, the 4x400m was might have been worse. I started off the relay in a solo 49.4 effort. I handed off to Dave Peters with a huge lead and he did not disappoint — logging a 50.3 leg. Next was Travis Taltoan, a newcomer to the team. Travis went out relatively hard, but faded pretty hard, too — running a 53.6. Still, with that said, Tracy was running solo and brought it home for our second-consecutive championship in 49.1. Outcome: Henderson wins Surburban ‘A’ Title (3:23.26) — Advanced to ‘Large School Championship

4x400m Final: Well, to be honest, I didn’t want to run this relay. I was tired and already talked to some college coaches who were pleased with my performance earlier that day. At any rate, we lined up for the race with only two of our runners having warmed up. I sloppily led off, leaving Henderson in the middle of the pack. My split was told to be 51.5, but it could have been slower for all I know. Dave P. ran another solid 50-point to keep us competitive. Travis ran a little better than he did in the earlier race — splitting 52.5. Tracy ran his ass off, catching a few guys, but it was too late. We earned another Penn Relays medal, but I pretty much let the team down. Outcome: Henderson — 5th Place Large School Final (3:26.xx)

2005

4x400m: A Freshman at La Salle University, I wanted to come out and run hard. I did just that. After two sub-par legs to start the relay, I got the baton and started churning. I logged a 48.7 split — catching two guys in the process. Dave Hall, our anchor, ran a nice 48-point to help seal the deal, but, in all, it wasn’t a good relay. Outcome: La Salle — 5th Place (3:25.xx)

2006

I missed this Penn Relays as I was in a medical redshirt season. Boo injuries.

2007

4x100m: This rainy affair was one to forget. I went as an alternate for our 4x100m, who advanced to the IC4A Championship race the next day. The guys ran pretty well that day. Keith Burke, Steve Rendall, Ryan Moseley, and James Tchabo.

2008

4x100m: Another Penn Relays to forget. Christ. They shot the gun when two of our legs weren’t even in the right position as they were setting tape. It was absurd. At any rate, our first leg, James Thomas, ran sub-par. Steve Rendall received the baton and did the best he could to keep us competitive. He handed off to Tchabo who ran a solid third leg. I received the baton out of striking distance to get our team the win. To my recollection, we finished 4th in the heat.

Let’s see if we can’t put something together for tomorrow. I would enjoy nothing more than a great effort and a SB from the team. It will be nice to go out there and mix-it-up once again with the best from the NCAA.