Officials hoping for separate events after canceling Philadelphia's Penn Relays

Shelly Stallsmith
York Daily Record

For the second straight year, the country's oldest track and field meet has been canceled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Penn Relays officials announced on their website that the event scheduled for April 22-24 in Philadelphia will not be held because of the pandemic and local restrictions on large gatherings.

The multi-day meet features some of the country's top high school, college and Olympic-caliber athletes in a variety of relay events. International athletes also often compete.

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"We are extremely disappointed to cancel the Penn Relays for a second year," said Dave Johnson, the Frank Dolson director of the Penn Relays. "At the same time, we feel a strong obligation to the local track and field community to provide as much competition as safely possible during the course of the spring and summer."

Instead of the traditional large gathering, if the situation continues to improve, Penn Relays hopes to host a local collegiate-only track and field meet on April 24 that is consistent with the Ivy League Council of Presidents' parameters regarding spring sports competition. They also plan to host a meet for open and professional athletes in the coming months and a scholastic meet this summer.

The April 24 event, if it happens, will consist of competition among local Division I, II and III institutions in the Philadelphia region. COVID-19 safety guidelines will be followed and no spectators will be permitted.

The open and professional meet will take place prior to U.S. Olympic-qualifying deadlines.

Shelly Stallsmith is a trends reporter for the York Daily Record. She can be reached at mstallsmith@ydr.com or followed on Twitter at @ShelStallsmith.