The Penn Relays 2017 by Jamaine Mungo For JAYFORCE.COM (Video)
Posted this little snip so you all can see what it is like to be in the midst of massive pure human energy on level 12! Anyone who might have seen the subject of this post and thought, “Penn Relays… so that’s a big deal?” YES! It’s a big tings a Gwan!!! Peace to the homie “Maine” for sharing this firsthand experience for this piece, too.
Began running track my freshman year in high school, attended Maple Shade High School, New Jersey. My events were 400m, 800m and the 4×400 meter relay. Along with my teammates, we always trained hard and wanted to win. Our mindset was that hard work pays off and it certainly did. The start of outdoor track & field started in March and we all knew that once April approached it would be time for the Penn Relays. We knew that once we stepped on that track at Penn Relays, it would be “Game Timeâ€. It is an indescribable feeling of pure energy, excitement, and adrenaline once you step on to the track at Penn Relays.
After high school, I continued my track career at Virginia State University running the 400m, 800m and 4x400m events. Throughout my time at VSU, I ran the 4x400m, sprint medley and distant medley relay events at the Penn Relays. Every year that I’ve run at the Penn Relays, there was that same electrifying feeling was always there and I always ran my personal best time.
There is an overall natural feeling of excitement for any athlete from high school, collegiate to olympian who steps onto the track at the University of Pennsylvania for the Penn Relays. A majority of athletes run their fastest times at the track that is known as a “fast trackâ€. The Penn Relay carnival kicks off on a Tuesday and goes until Saturday. Athletes range from all age groups from middle school, high school, college, Olympians, and masters groups whom still compete at the golden age of 75+ running the 100m dash.
This is the largest Track & Field competition that is hosted where you can see all forms of athletes from all different age groups, various events and guaranteed to see some fast times on the track from the world’s best athletes.
So, you got a stadium packed with 90,000 fans – cheering, shouting, blowing horns, rattling all kinds of noisemakers and reveling with each other –
transferring that energy to the athletes who are now overcharged to run their fastest. Tradition, excellence, positive potential energy turned kinetic in the best ways. The Penn Relays started in April 21st, 1895 and is showing no signs of slowing down. It continues to get larger each year. The last race this year ended early Saturday evening, and just like that, it is over… until next year! – Jamaine
Hit the jump for a couple of images of Jamaine Mungo from Penn Relays Years Ago.