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.

dailybruin.ucla.edu

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US Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have held their final debate before next week’s key primary in Pennsylvania.
Senator Clinton criticised her rival’s recent remark that working-class voters clung to guns and religion in difficult times, calling it “offensive”.
Senator Obama said the comments had been taken out of context.
Both expressed confidence that either of them could beat Republican John McCain in November’s election.
But both declined to confirm whether they would ask the other to be their vice-presidential running mate.
Asked whether Mr Obama could win the presidential election, Mrs Clinton said emphatically: “Yes, yes, yes.”
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Mr Obama, asked the same question about Mrs Clinton’s electability, responded: “Absolutely and I’ve said so before.”
Both rivals criticised John McCain’s economic plans, pledging not to raise taxes on those earning less than $200,000 a year.
The candidates’ 21st debate since the beginning of the campaign came days before 158 crucial delegates will be up for grabs in Pennsylvania.
The 90-minute debate in Philadelphia gave the candidates a chance to make their case to Pennsylvania’s Democratic voters.
But if Barack Obama had hoped this debate would concentrate on policy, he was disappointed, says the BBC’s Jamie Coomarasamy in Philadelphia.
The first 45 minutes focused on recent gaffes, our correspondent says.
Mr Obama said he mangled his description of the mood in economically struggling small towns.
“The problem that we have in our politics, which is fairly typical, is that you take one person’s statement, if it’s not properly phrased, and you just beat it to death, and that’s what Senator Clinton’s been doing,” said the Illinois senator.
For her part, Mrs Clinton apologised for the first time for inaccurately saying she came under sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996.

news.bbc.co.uk

Dear Philly1.com Members,
It’s a big week for the city coming up. On Wednesday evening the Democratic Presidential candidates will debate at the National Constitution Center and the state and country will be watching. The Philadelphia Democratic City Committee along with Congressman Robert Brady and Rainmakers, Inc., are sponsoring a debate watch and afterparty at The Dipping Pot @ Cebu (123 Chestnut St). Our very own Emmie Goldenbaum designed the invite and accordingly we have 10 tickets to give to Philly1.com members. The event is free but you must have a ticket in-hand to get in. Doors open at 7pm and once the debate is over, don’t be surprised if many national political & media players make an appearance … that’s all we can say about that … wink, wink. Contact Harry’s profile to get on the list.
Also, we’d like to welcome Stephan Fischer of Munich, Germany to Philly1.com. While we don’t usually allow ouslanders on the site, he is inquiring about Philadelphia for a friend who is considering moving here. Stephan is a big blogger in Germany and has created a discussion board that this would-be philly friend will get all of her local information. So, please take a moment and leave a post or two about your favorite and least favorite things about our city. Remember members, honesty is best. Here’s the link to “What’s Philly Like?” . Also Stephan, these listings might serve as a nice start for your friend to begin her evaluations.
As for this weekend, we have a nice selection of events for you to choose from.
Tonight, check out Wine 101: Introduction to Wine at the Wine School of Philadelphia (2006 Fairmount Ave). This is the class that over fifteen hundred people have attended since 2001. Possibly the most important two hours a wine lover could spend, the premise of this class is to introduce the essential building blocks of wine knowledge. In a laid-back atmosphere–and wine on the table–expert instructors have you swirling, sniffing, and sipping with the best of them in just a few hours time. It’s $37.99 and for more information visit http://www.vinology.com/wine101.php.

philly1.com