Ten iconic Penn Bests (PBs)
How America’s oldest track and field event became the most decorated Olympic springboard.
The Penn Relays has long been recognized as the oldest and largest track and field competition in the US. But the impact of this unique and historic event goes beyond years and size. It is the only track and field meeting in the world that has had gold medalists at every Olympics since 1896 (with the sole exception of the U.S.-boycotted 1980 Games). No other meeting within the sport can claim the same astonishing success as an Olympic springboard.
1 in 3 track and field Olympic Golds achieved by Penn Relay athletes
Throughout history, nearly 300 athletes that have competed at the Penn Relays won over 400 Olympic gold medals. That’s approximately one out of three gold medals ever won in the history of track and field at the Olympic Games, including the multiple gold medals distributed at relay events. The US has other major relay events like the Drake Relays (from 1910) but in terms of Olympic Gold medalists and medals, the Penn Relays is the leader by a significant margin.
Penn Bests and all-time greats run hand in hand
The caliber of athletes that have come through the Penn Relays is second to none. Whether beginning their careers as high school or college athletes, or already established as ‘the best’, revisiting the iconic athletes and iconic performances at Penn Relays reads like a list of all-time track and field greats.
Rekortan is tested and proven by the best of the best
As the official track surface of the Penn Relays and the track brand with the most Olympic records, Rekortan has been tested and proven throughout history by the best of the best. As we head into the 2025 edition of the Penn Relays and a home Games for the US in 2028, we celebrate ten of the greatest track and field athletes who share both Olympic and Penn Relay Golds.
1. Paavo Nurmi (FIN)
The dominant Finnish athlete of the early 20th century, ‘The Flying Finn’ is still the #1 track and field athlete in terms of Olympic medals with 12 (9 Gold and Silver). Crowned champion at the Penn Relays in both the 2 miles and 5,000m in 1929, his performances attracted a 50,000-strong crowd which was only surpassed 80 years later when Usain Bolt made his Penn Relays appearance.
2. Jesse Owens (USA)
To many track and field specialists, the greatest track and field athlete ever for his unique accomplishments at the Berlin Olympics in 1936, Owens won three separate events at the Penn Relays before he catapulted to Olympic fame. His victories in the 100m, long jump, and sprint medley relay were a precursor to his 100m Gold and Olympic Record, 4x100m Gold and WR and 200m and long jump gold medals in the Berlin Games.
3. Bob Beamon (USA)
Beamon burst onto the scene at the 1965 Penn Relays with an event record for the High School triple jump which stood for 12 years and won him the high school award for the ‘most outstanding athlete’ that year. He then went on to become the owner of the longest-standing track and field Olympic Record of all time when he jumped 8.90m in the long jump at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 (surpassing the previous mark by a colossal 55cm). Even in the unlikely event his record is broken in LA 2028, it will have reined for at least 60 years.
4. Edwin Moses (USA)
When the relatively unknown student from Morehouse College showed up at the Penn Relays in 1976, no one would have predicted the trajectory his career would take. His Penn Relay College record at the 400m hurdles stood for three years. Just three months after his Penn Relays success he went on to win the Olympic Gold at the Montreal Olympics and then entered one of the most impressive winning streaks in the history of track and field, clinching 122 consecutive races over the following decade between 1977 and 1987.
5. Carl Lewis (USA)
Owner of the most Olympic Golds of any American track and field athlete, Lewis is also a Penn Relays legend with eight wins (five relays and three individual events) to his name. As a college athlete in 1980, he won the Penn Relays long jump and returned the following year to take the event record in the same event – a mark that stood for 14 years. In 1983 he ran the Penn Relays 100m record in 10.09 (a record that has remained for 41 years and counting). In 1992, already as a multiple Olympic and World Champion, he led his team to win the 4x200m in an event record which also still stands today. Six of his nine Olympic medals were won on Rekortan tracks in LA 1984 and Seoul 1988.
“As the official track surface of the Penn Relays and the track brand with the most Olympic records, Rekortan has been tested and proven throughout history by the best of the best.”
6. Michael Johnson (USA)
The US track and field legend graced the Penn Relays stage multiple times. In 1998 he took Gold in the 4x200m Olympic Development relay. He led his team to victory in the 4x400m in 2000 with a 43.7 second anchor leg before finishing his phenomenal career on US soil on the historic track with Gold in the 4x400 at the 2001 edition, overcoming the Jamaican team in the final leg. He is still the WR holder for the 4x400m, achieved in the 1993 World Championship where he recorded the fastest ever 400m split of 42.9 seconds.
7. Allyson Felix (USA)
The 11x Olympic medalist is also one of the most decorated athletes ever at the Penn Relays. She won a total of 13 Penn Relay events from 2005 to 2012 including both the 4x100 and 4x400. As part of the USA National team, she holds the current Penn Relay records for these events which she achieved the same year she clinched three gold medals at London2012 (200m, 4x100m and 4x400m)
8. Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
She was a Penn Relays regular at both college level and as a professional athlete, becoming the 100m College Champion in 2008 for Utech just a few months before winning the 100m Olympic gold medal in Beijing. She has won 100m medals in four consecutive Olympics and has 8 Olympic and 16 World Championship medals to her name making her one of the greatest female sprinters of all time.
9. Usain Bolt (JAM)
Not only did Usain Bolt run at the Penn Relays but he ran at the peak of his power in 2010 fresh from his still-standing World Records at both 100m and 200m. The result was one of the fastest legs ever recorded in a 4x100m – 8.79 – which drew in a single day record-setting crowd of 54,310.
10. Sydney McLaughlin (USA)
Owner of multiple World Records and Olympic Golds, the all-time legend, at just 25 years-old, has been branded an ‘unbeatable athlete’. According to World Athletics Scoring Tables, her 400m hurdles WR from Paris24 is the all-time strongest women’s track performance. As a high school athlete, she won the ‘Girls Relay’ award for her performance at the 2017 Penn Relays 4x100 and her 100m hurdles event record still stands today.