Track & Field

The economic impact of the Olympics

Rising fourth-year Silas Ruth, an economics major, examines sports mega-events like Paris 2024 through an economic lens.

Kristen de Groot



In the News


Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn’s newly built Ott Center serves as a ‘local community track’ for athletes

Penn alumni and former cross-country runners Jane and David Ott have helped reinvigorate track and field in Philadelphia with the newly built Ott Center, a $69.3 million, 73,000-square foot indoor track facility.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn wants Philly to be a global track destination. Bringing more pros to town is part of it

Penn Relays director Steve Dolan and Penn athletic director Alanna Shanahan share how the new Grand Slam Track circuit event will help make Penn a global track destination.

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The New York Times

For Nia Akins, U.S. 800-meter Olympian, music was the path to confidence in track

Recent Penn grad and 2024 Paris Olympian Nia Akins is profiled for drawing connections between musical performance and running track and field.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn grad Nia Akins is about to release her first album. But first: Compete in the 800 meters at the Olympics

Penn graduate Nia Akins is running the 800 meters at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, with remarks from Penn coach Steve Dolan.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn’s Isabella Whittaker and sister Juliette are living out a childhood dream of being Olympians

Recent Penn graduate Isabella Whitaker and her sister Juliette are running for the U.S. track and field team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Runner’s World

They shared a bedroom growing up. Now, the Whittaker sisters are Olympic Village roommates

Recent Penn grad Isabella Whittaker and her sister Juliette are supporting each other as runners at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

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