The list of competitors at this year’s installment of the Penn Relays just got a spectacular boost.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt announced yesterday that he will be competing in the men’s 4x100 relay as part of the USA versus The World event, scheduled for Saturday, April 24.
Students may remember Bolt from his record -shattering performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he became the first athlete to set world records in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 relay.
“Usain Bolt choosing to compete at Franklin Field in the Penn Relays demonstrates the scope of this event,” Alanna Shanahan, senior associate director of athletics said.
In order to make the event more accessible to students, Penn Athletics is offering tickets at a 50-percent discount to the first 100 students who purchase their tickets at Weightman Hall.
“Because ticket prices are going up in a number of areas, we didn’t want to do something that was shutting out the students,” Dave Johnson, director of the Penn Relays said.
The Relays draw more fans to Penn’s campus than to any other track and field meet in the world besides the Olympics and World Championships. Three-day attendance figures for The Relays have averaged more than 104,000 each year since 1996.
“The fact that the entire Penn community has a chance to witness the best track and field athletes in the world compete at the highest level without having to leave campus is what makes this a can’t-miss opportunity for Penn students, faculty and staff,” Shanahan said.
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