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Global Relays is back for Penns 2024

Published:Wednesday | December 6, 2023 | 12:15 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
In this April 25, 2015, file photo, Natasha Morrison, right, of Jamaica, edges Kaylin Whitney, of the United States, at the finish line to win the USA vs. the World Women’s 4x100-metres at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
AP
In this April 25, 2015, file photo, Natasha Morrison, right, of Jamaica, edges Kaylin Whitney, of the United States, at the finish line to win the USA vs. the World Women’s 4x100-metres at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

ONE OF the most anticipated events at the Penn Relays over the years has been the clash between Jamaica and the USA at the senior level in what is known as the USA vs the World relay.

Those relays feature some of the world’s top athletes, normally on a Saturday afternoon, the final day of the three-day event. Who can forget the 116th staging in 2010 when the legendary Usain Bolt was part of a Jamaica 4x100 metres relay team, anchoring it and electrifying a record crowd of 54,310 inside the Franklin Field Stadium?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has not been on the programme.

But come next year, fans are in for a spectacle.

World Athletics has partnered with Penn Relays for the 124th staging from April 25-27 to put on the Global Relays.

The Global Relays will feature countries from all over the world, competing in the 4x100 and 4x400 men and women.

According to a release from the Penn Relays website, some 12 nations have already expressed their intent to compete, including some of the best in the world in their respective events, just ahead of the Olympic Games. This is also just a week ahead of the World Athletics Relays to be held in the Bahamas.

Director of Penn Relays, Steve Dolan, in a release on the Penn Relays website, said: “The Penn Relays is proud to welcome athletes from around the globe to Philadelphia. We are honoured to build on the rich history by providing an opportunity for international relay teams and individuals to compete as they prepare for the World Relays and the Olympics.”

The full slate of events will be announced this week.