Philadelphia, Pa.—The Penn Relays Carnival, the most historic track and field event in the United States, awaits members of the Auburn track and field team this weekend at Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Auburn sends 19 athletes that will compete in throws, jumps and sprint events. This weekend's event marks the 125th running of the Penn Relays.
"It's been around for 125 years. It's one of those staples in the sport of track and field," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "There's very few times you can come to the United States and compete with 50,000 people in the stands. That's the environment you get at the Penn Relays. You got the top people in the world and you've got the top collegiate athletes. It's a very historical competition. It's a good environment to get you prepared for SECs."
Auburn junior Kylee Carter will look to defender her title in the women's javelin throw championship on Thursday. Carter won the event last year while breaking a then school record in the event. Carter will be joined by teammates Peyton Montgomery and Ashley Carter in the competition that begins at 5:45 p.m. CT.
"Kylee is doing a great job of competing head-to-head," Spry said. "That's what's exciting. She won at Penn Relays last year and we hope to repeat that with her. We're taking a good group of throwers and sprinters to compete, so we are looking forward to them competing hard and having good results."
Carter has won all five meets she's entered in 2019 and is ranked third nationally in the javelin throw. Teammate Tori McKinley, seventh in the country in the shot put, will kick off Auburn's showing at the Penn Relays at 10:30 a.m. in the women's shot put championship.
Madi Malone, ranked No. 17 nationally, and teammate Erin Perkins are entered in the women's hammer throw championship that will start at 12:15 p.m.
The Auburn men will get to work on Friday with the 4x100m relay (11:30 a.m.) and 4x200m relay (12:35 p.m.).
A year ago, Auburn won three individual events and one relay. Besides Carter's title in the javelin, graduate Justin Carter won the men's javelin, former Tiger Raheem Chambers won the men's 100m dahs and the women's 4x100m relay won the College Championship of America title.
The 2019 Penn Relays will be televised on Thursday online at USATF.TV. NBC Sports Network will air action on Friday from 4-5 p.m. CT and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Lives results of meet can be found at: http://pennrelaysonline.com/Results/schedule.aspx
The Penn Relays will not be the only meet featuring Auburn athletes this weekend as a group of Tigers will be at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens, Ga., Friday and Saturday.
AUBURN AT THE PENN RELAYS
Thursday, April 25 (All Times Central)
1030 am Women's Shot Put Championship (Tori McKinley)
1215 pm Women's Hammer Throw Championship (Madi Malone, Erin Perkins)
545 pm Women's Javelin Throw Championship (Kylee Carter, Ashley Carter, Peyton Montgomery)
Friday, April 26
1030 am Women's Discus Throw Championship (Tori McKinley, Ivana Muzaric)
1130 am Men's 4x100m Relay heats
1235 pm Men's 4x200m Championship of America Invitational
1 pm Men's Long Jump Championship (Noah Igbinoghene)
225 pm Men's 100m dash heats (Anthony Schwartz)
230 pm Men's Long Jump (Marrel Parker, Mark Rubalcaba)
Saturday, April 27
8 am Men's Triple Jump (Mark Rubalcaba)
8 am Men's Javelin Throw (Erik Ebel)
1015 am Men's Javelin Throw (John Putnam, Cade Antonucci)
1 pm Men's Triple Jump Championship (Noah Igbioghene)
215 pm Men's Hammer Throw (Erik Ebel)
1252 pm Men's 4x100m Relay finals
245 pm Men's 100m dash finals