PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 45 Jamaican high schools are running in West Philadelphia this weekend at the 130th Penn Relays, continuing a 60-year tradition at the country’s oldest track and field meet.
It takes talent, practice and hard work for runners to get to the Penn Relays. For Elijah Campbell of St. Jago High School in Jamaica, it also took two plane rides and multiple buses, but he is happy to be here.
“The joy of seeing my teammates perform. That’s the real ‘oh’ moment for me,” Campbell said.
Jamaica began sending athletes in the 1960s and grew to dominate high school events. In fact, last year, the top American team in the marquee 4x400 boys race — Bullis School of Maryland — broke the American record and still came in second to Jamaica’s Kingston High.
Jamaica’s participation has drawn other Caribbean nations to compete and added a colorful cultural element to the relays, supported by the nonprofit Team Jamaica Bickle— “bickle” being a Jamaican term for food. Volunteer Stacey Osbourne said it provides not only food but transportation, housing, and even health insurance for the athletes.
“So they have the opportunity to come to the Penn Relays, so a coach could see them, you know, whatever opportunity lies beyond that,” Osbourne said.
Bullis gets a rematch with Kingston on Saturday evening in the high school boys' 4x400 championship race.
