Donna on the Side
at the Penn Relays - at the Meet

by Donna Dye

Part 1 - the scene
Part 2 - smiles and waves
Part 3 - SPARQ
Part 4 - running events
Part 5 - field events
Part 6 - Team USA and DyeStat grads

The Scene

Take the blue line to 34th for the University of Pennsylvania

Universtiy of Pennsylvania

This year was the 111th Penn Relays Carnival at the Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania, April 2005. U Penn was founded by Benjamin Franklin who founded the institution as a "progressive college." . In his "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania" (1749), Franklin outlined a progressive college: one that would offer practical as well as classical instruction in order to prepare youth for real-world pursuits."

The vendor scene is a Penn Relays phenomenon. Food and souvenir stalls, mostly flying the Jamaican colors, fill the streets outside of the stadium. Patrons roam the sidewalks nibbling and munching.

Getting inside the stadium meant lines and security checks. But that did not discourage attendance of 63,000 on Thursday and Friday together, and on a rainy Saturday, attendance was 44,612

Bags were checked; bodies wanded. But while the lines were long, they moved well.

A rainy Saturday

Saturday's rain didn't discourage the crowds.

Sideline Action On the Grounds

Vendor stalls fill up the open areas outside of Franklin Field. Lots of food, health products, shoes and apparel were on display. Military recruiters were out entertaining the crowd and providing hands-on experiences.

The Navy brought in the F-18 Flight Simulator and a band, complete with a lead singer.
And if the food stalls outside were not enough, there were food stalls underneath the stands that provided more substantial dishes.

Inside the Stadium

The staging area where athletes get ready and line up for their events.

Instructions are provided to a relay leg.

DONNA ON THE SIDE at the PENN RELAYS
Part 1 - the scene
Part 2 - smiles and waves
Part 3 - SPARQ
Part 4 - running events
Part 5 - field events
Part 6 - Team USA and DyeStat grads

Penn Relays index page

DyeStat
is published by
Student Sports

©1998-2005

John Dye - founder and editor in chief
Donna Dye - features editor
Kirsten O'Hara - business and marketing manager
Rich Gonzalez - reporter and DyeStatCal co-editor
Doug Speck - reporter and DyeStatCal co-editor
Steve Underwood - reporter and TrackTalk administrator

left, John and Donna Dye