There is only one track meet in the nation that has enough pomp and circumstance to surpass the national championship meet: the Penn Relays.
Beginning Tuesday, a group from the UCLA women’s track and field team began competition on the other side of the country at that prestigious meet held at the University of Pennsylvania.
In its rich, 113-year tradition, the most famous and widely attended meet in the United States has brought together high school and college teams from all over the country, as well as athletes from all over the world. Over 100,000 track fans will pack into the stands over the stretch of the three-day event, with over 50,000 expected on the final day.
“It’s great. There’s so much tradition,” coach Jeanette Bolden said. “It’s a lot bigger than (the national championships).”
The meet is famous for popularizing relays and has races that are not seen very often. Besides the normal 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter relays, there is a 4-mile relay and 2-mile relay,
The squad representing UCLA will consist of jumpers, sprinters and a few distance runners. There will be relay teams in the 4×100m, 4×400m and a distance medley team.
“We don’t have the entire team going,” Bolden said. “This is a good chance for the relays to do well and get a national ranking.”
With the wide field of competition – around 15,000 athletes will participate – the Bruins will get a peek at what to expect at nationals.
“This meet gives you a nice preview for NCAAs,” Bolden said. “You see a lot of teams you wouldn’t normally see during the season.”
For a couple athletes, it will be a chance to show the country, as well as their families what they can do on the track.
Freshmen Lindsey Rowe (100m hurdles, 4×100m relay) is from Jamaica, Queens, N.Y., and junior Nicole Leach hails from West Philadelphia, Pa. The meet gives them the chance to compete in front of family and friends who do not get to see most of their meets.

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