Quakers post numerous milestones during 130th Penn Relays
From Thursday through Saturday, the 130th annual Penn Relays enlivened Franklin Field. The world-renowned three-day competition featured nearly 20,000 athletes of all levels.
3 min. read
Bright skies and balmy air embraced the annual Penn Relays on Thursday, April 23. Marking its 130th year, the lively three-day festivity is the oldest and largest track and field meet in the nation, inviting nearly 20,000 athletes of all levels to compete at Franklin Field. Starter pistols, sport cleats, team rapport, and motivational coaching gave character to the world-renowned event, which dates to 1895.
Despite a rainy Saturday, the Relays drew thousands of spectators—including Penn parents and Philadelphia residents—eagerly cheering on athletes from across the region, country, and globe.
Donning red and blue striped uniforms on home turf, Penn track and field athletes marked notable milestones. Fourth-year Kampton Kam won the men’s high jump championship, successfully defending his title with a height of 2.17m (7 feet, 1 ¼ inches). Kam’s victory marks the 10th time a Penn athlete has won the high jump, the most for any school in this event; his jump also ranks first in the Ivy League and lands him in the NCAA Top 15. In 2025, Kam, who is from Singapore, broke the country’s 30-year high jump record.
Additionally, in the women’s shot put championship, first-year Jessica Oji had the winning toss, achieving a throw of 18.15m (59 feet, 6 ¾ inches). The victory marks her first outdoor collegiate win. Second-year Alex Georgiev also won the college men’s pole vault, ascending to 5.12m (16 feet, 9 ¼ inches).
On Thursday, several Quakers placed in the top 15.
Second-year Joseph Ruiz finished 10th in the men’s 10,000m with a time of 30:13.60, with fourth-year Dennis Fortuna following in 15th at 30:59.23. In the men’s 1500m, first-year Vinay Raman placed 9th, clocking a time of 3:43.44. He’s currently ranked seventh in program history. In the men’s 5000m championship, fourth-year Sahil Dodda clocked in at 14:25.80, and second-year Raghav Gopalakrishnan ran a personal-best of 14:28.57.
During the women’s 10,000m, fourth-year Anna Weirich finished 9th with a time of 34:10.94, reaching fourth in program history; third-year Gabrielle Jones placed 11th with 34:38.29, ranking sixth in program history; and fourth-year Kyra Compton finished 15th at 35:53.80. The women’s 400m saw third-year Amelia Kristen score 9th, posting a personal-best time of 58.44 and ranking third in program history.
In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, third-year Sarah Fischer finished in 10:22.91, marking third in program history. Third-year Ella Neskora finished 4th in the women’s hammer throw with 56.01 meters (183 feet, 9 inches), achieving a personal-best.
Friday saw the Quakers deliver more standout results.
In the men’s sprint medley Championship of America competition, first-year Simeon Adams, first-year Leo Francis, fourth-year Alec Jackson, and fourth-year Nicolas Pizarro finished 9th, clocking a time of 3:22.70.
(Left) Penn President J. Larry Jameson joined T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation Alanna Wren (left) on Franklin Field on Saturday, April 25, first-year thrower Jessica Oji (second from right), and Penn alumna Bella Whittaker (right).
Second-year Elias Chase took 5th in the javelin throw with a toss of 60.85m (199 feet, 7 inches). Second-year Oliver Hassard reached a high jump height of 1.96m (6 feet, 5 inches), finishing 12th in the college competition. First-year Leo Francis placed 12th in the men’s long jump, leaping a personal-best of 6.93m (22 feet, 9 inches).
The women’s 4x400m Championship of America race saw third-year Simone Castelluccio, first-year Rianna Floyd, first-year Jailyn Milord, and first-year Giuliana Ligor clock a time of 3:36.35, finishing 10th and ranking 7th in program history. First-year Keira Beaumont ran the women’s 100m in a time of 11.82, ranking 8th in program history. In the women’s 100m hurdles, first-year Sofia Swindell posted a time of 13.91, ranking 9th in program history.
Three Penn athletes placed in the top 10 of the women’s high jump college competition: third-year Samantha Strydesky, finishing 4th at 1.70m (5 feet, 7 inches); first-year Yuliya Maslouskaya, tying for 6th at 1.65m (5 feet, 5 inches); and first-year Lydia Merrick, tying for 10th at 1.65m (5 feet, 5 inches). Third-year Evangeline Thomson tied for 3rd in the women’s college pole vault, reaching a height of 3.9m (12 feet, 9 ½ inches), with first-year Rebecca Hoover tying for 6th at 3.75m (12 feet, 3 ½ inches).
The Quakers carried their teamwide momentum into Saturday.
Fourth-year Shane Gardner posted a time of 14.62 in the men’s 110m hurdles, finishing 7th.
Third-year Adannia Agbo was runner-up in the women’s triple jump championship, leaping 12.89m (42 feet, 3 ¼ inches).
Additionally, first-year Thomas Bucks placed 6th in the pole vault championship, clearing 5.17m (16 feet, 11 ½ inches) on his first try, and fourth-year Angeludi Asaah finished 5th in the women’s discus throw championship, reaching 51.82m (170 feet).
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