“We’re brave, we’re beautiful, we’re smart, we’re kind, we’re fast, and we’re going to slay on this track,” chants Cherry Hill East freshman Chloe Barnes (‘28) in her pre-competition ritual to motivate herself and her teammates before stepping onto University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field. It was a perfect spring day for the annual Penn Relays, where Barnes represented East in both the 4 x 100 meter and 4 x 400 meter relays.
From April 24 through April 26, 2025, the annual Penn Relays were held at University of Pennsylvania’s breathtaking and historic Franklin Field. This year marks the 129th Penn Relays, which hosts more than 700 teams and 17,000 track athletes. In addition to the participants, a remarkable 100,000 fans from across the country will fill the packed stands to cheer on the runners, making it an unforgettable experience.
“If the team wins, each runner wins; if the team loses, each runner loses,” describes Frank Ellis, the original creator of the Penn Relays.
More than 100 years ago, the first Penn Relays were held on April 21, 1895 and have evolved over time to include events for everyone: middle schoolers, high schoolers, collegiate runners, and professional athletes. Not only are the Penn Relays known as the longest-running, track and field relay meet in the United States, but they are also recognized for its acceptance of all races and schools since its inception. The City of Philadelphia looks forward to the masses of people and excitement that the Penn Relays bring annually on the last weekend of April.
Freshman Maya Morgan (‘28) says, “I am excited because I have never ran at Penn Relays before, or had any track experience like that. I am running the 4 x 400, and my ultimate goal is to help my relay to be successful. I will need to run strong, relaxed, and maintain good form the whole race.”
In this particular year, the sun was shining and the air was warm. No matter the weather, the environment and community exude energy and excitement, evidenced by thousands of cheering fans waving their flags from different countries across the world, with the goal of pumping up athletes, like Morgan, who are hoping to achieve their personal bests.
Penn Relays are more than just a track meet because there is so much to do. The areas outside the track stadium are jam-packed with Philly-inspired food trucks, merch stores, free-giveaways and contests, along with a multitude of balloons, arches, and backdrops that are perfect for snapping pictures and making memories.
“I enjoy watching the competitive events even when I’m not running. There are a lot of fun activities outside the arena, including music, which is great to be around,” said Isaiah Donaldson (‘25).
Traditionally, East sends four boys and four girls to compete in each of the 4 x 100M and 4 x 400M relays, unless they are exceptional athletes that meet the high performance standards for a field event, such as a 14.6 feet, for the Boys Pole Vault or an 18.0 feet for the Girls Long Jump, just to name a few examples. Although these events are hard to qualify for, it is not impossible.
Jessica Bryant (‘16), current East Track Coach and East alumni is one of those exceptional athletes that had the stats good enough to qualify for a highly competitive field event.
“My biggest accomplishment was competing in Long Jump and winning a medal! It’s really hard to qualify for field events, so it was an honor just competing, but to walk away with a medal is something that I’m really proud of,” says Bryant.
Serving as a positive role model to the girls she coaches, Bryant’s success inspired this year’s relay teams who aimed to beat her long-standing personal Penn Relay records. During her time at East, Bryant’s most successful relay was her 2016 Penn Relay 4 x 100M time of 51.44 seconds. As a result of their hard work, the 2025 4 x 100M team broke Coach Jess’s previous record, clocking in at 51.14 seconds. Although Bryant only ran the 4 x 400M in 2013, the 2025 relay team smashed Bryant’s 4:31.14 time with an impressive time of 4:15.29.
East’s 2025 relay times for the 4 x 100M and 4 x 400M now hold the 3rd and 4th fastest times, respectively, in East’s Penn Relay history. Cherry Hill East’s all-time best Penn Relay record stands at 49.04, in 2017, for the 4 by 100M and 4:04.04, in 2018, for the 4 by 400M. The East Boys Track record times for the Penn Relays have been hard to beat; the record time of 44.03 seconds for the 4 x 100M relay was set in 2011, while the 4 x 400M record of 3:20.07 was set one year later, in 2012.
Penn Relays did not go as expected for the East Boys 4 x 100M relay team this year. After dropping the baton, passing from the first to second leg, they did not finish the race. However, success was able to find the boys 4 x 400M who placed 3rd out of 16 teams, with an outstanding time of 3:23.39.
Alongside Cherry Hill East, Beck Middle School also competed at the Penn Relays for the first time since 2019. Coach Christopher Corey, East Boys Cross Country Coach and Beck Middle School Spring Track Coach, brought the Beck Girls Spring Track Team to this year’s Penn Relays. They earned their way by qualifying for the 4 x 100M relay team at the SJ Penn Relays Qualifying Meet; they recorded a time of 52.3 seconds which earned them 5th place out of 24 teams.
Coach Corey, along with the East Head Girls Track Coach, Coach Yanell Joseph, join Bryant, on the list of East coaches that have also competed at the Penn Relays as athletes, agreeing that while the experience for runners and coaches is much different, they both leave memories that last a lifetime.
“As a coach, you worry about the logistics, versus a runner, who just has to run and have fun, while trying to not get caught up in the fact that it is Penn Relays,” explains Coach Jo. She adds, “I did get to step on the track today and it kind of feels the same. It brings back a lot of memories.”
Cherry Hill East Track and Field athletes and those from all over the world look forward to the sacred tradition of the Penn Relays in April each year.
Whether it is your first time running at Penn Relays or you are a veteran, the spirit and goals of the meet have stayed the same. “Beat the person in front of you…Go out, be free mind, not worried about anything— just run,” said fast sprinter Tymir Gayle (‘26).