Athletics – Philadelphia, the 2011 Penn Relays begins at Franklin Field

Philadelphia, the 2011 Penn Relays is going to be held today at Franklin Field. Many well famous relay teams have reached so far to make the event successful.

Tanya Smolin, of high school, the outclass high jumper in the history of Penn Relays has joined Penn Relays Wall of Fame in 2011. She was winner of girl’s high jumping in school. Her record was unbeaten for six years.

Other than Smolin, the relay teams are also reached. Kenyan 4 x 400 metres relay team for men reached. This team is qualified for IAAF Daegu world championship. The members of the team are Geoffrey Ngeno, Julius Kirwa, Mark Muttai, Moses Kerich and Stephen
Barasa. The coach of this team is Stephen Mwaniki.

Mwaniki addressed on the team’s performance and plan that they are qualified for the Daegu championship now they are just preparing themselves for that event. They came here just for exposure. He also recalled that his team won gold medal last year in Nairobi
at African senior championship, so he has ability to earn the victory. He said, “We need exposure if we are to compete with the big nations in Korea. That’s the only way Kenya will be able to compete at the world championships.”

Another champ who is taking part is Joseph Ebuya, he was world senior 12 kilometres cross country champion. He is hot favourite for 5000 metres title in the Athletics Kenya / National Bank meeting at Franklin Field. Ebuya has stated that, “”It’s quite a
busy season and the earlier we start, the better for all of us. I did 1,500m in the opening two meetings because I wanted to gain speed for the 5,000m. I think it is now time to switch to my event proper and focus.”

Ebuya has taken part in Narok and Kisii for the 1,500 metres in the opening two meetings. But now he has decided to change his pace for preparing the Daegu championships.

He is focusing the local teams as the risky rival, he said, “These young guys are really competitive and winning against them is like winning a gold medal in a world event. They are taking these meetings very seriously with one eye glued on the world championships
team.” He has major threat is from Justine Cheruiyot, David Bett and Geoffrey Kirui those were winner in Kisii and ranked first, second and third respectively.

Moreover, the PRO of athletics Kenya, Peter Angwenyi cleared about the qualification time that, “”Most of our runners are yet to attain the qualifying marks and they will be chasing these in Mumias. As you all know the national trials are just around the
corner and it is only fair that the qualifying times are attained prior to the event.”

The event will kick off on Friday, April 30 at Philadelphia