A guide for fans going to the Penn Relays

Unlike the other big sports event in town this weekend, the Penn Relays are non-stop action.

Rather than constantly wait 10 minutes for something to happen on Thursday (or seven minutes and five minutes on Friday and Saturday, respectively) in the NFL draft, the Penn Relays has action all the time. The carnival, now in its 123rd year, features 302 events - 251 on the Franklin Field track alone - going off over 35 1/2 hours covering those three days.

But it's not just the activity on the track or at throwing fields south of the stadium. There also is action in the stands and at the carnival village outside, with people reuniting with old friends or making new ones, or the usual old-timers settled in at the northeast corner of the stadium - aka the "Woooo" corner - marveling at the speed of the runners passing by.

By the time it's all said and done, around 20,000 athletes from more than 1,000 high schools and 200 colleges from 32 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 11 countries, plus track clubs from far and wide as well as professionals, will have competed before what officials hope is a 13th consecutive season of 100,000-plus fans.

Here is a look at this year's Relays:

Welcome back, Olympians. No fewer than 30 gold medalists in the 2016 Rio Olympics performed at the Penn Relays at one time or another in their lives, and four Olympic champions return Saturday for the 18th annual USA vs. The World competition. Former Eastern High School star English Gardner of Voorhees is joined by U.S. teammates Natasha Hastings and Morolake Akinosun, and two-time gold medalist Elaine Thompson of Jamaica.

Welcome home. Former Penn Wood High star Leroy Burrell, who still holds the carnival and Franklin Field record in the 100, returns to the carnival as an honorary referee. He also brings to town his Houston Cougars, who include his son, Cameron. The younger Burrell will run in the 4x100-meter relay and the open 100 and also compete in the long jump.

Record watch I. The longest-standing Penn Relays record, Penn State's 7 minutes, 11.17 seconds clocking in the 1985 men's 4x800 relay, could be at risk, and the Nittany Lions, anchored by U.S. Olympic Trials finalist Isaiah Harris, will give it a go as they seek their fourth win in the event in the last six years.

Record watch II and III. Oregon brings its women's 4x100 relay team that set a collegiate record of 42.12 seconds earlier this spring and will chase the carnival mark of 42.59. The Ducks also could take dead aim on the record of 3:41.78 in the women's sprint medley and have a good shot with NCAA champion Raevyn Rogers anchoring.

We love our seniors. One of the most highly anticipated events is Saturday's Masters mixed 100-meter dash, where the entries range in age from 77 to 97. Watch for Mary Van Sciver of Voorhees, who will be making her Penn Relays debut - at age 89.

More TV, and a schedule change. NBCSN is adding a one-hour telecast on Friday evening (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.) to its annual Saturday coverage (12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.). In doing so, one of Friday's marquee events, the men's distance medley relay, has been moved back to a 5:33 start time.

Purchase that program. The 162-page Penn Relays program, a truly great bargain at $10, contains entries, records, history, past times and winners and other information. Where else would you find the names of the 2,580 runners who will compete on the 645 teams involved in 31/2 hours of the high school boys 4x400 relay on Saturday?

Also a must. Make sure you visit the carnival web site, thepennrelays.com, to check on the latest results and entries. The site also has a link to a fan guide that presents a useful map of Franklin Field and the surrounding area in case you want to check anything out.

Getting there. Those traveling to the carnival are advised to keep SEPTA in mind. Beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday and continuing all day on Friday and Saturday, free parking will be provided at the Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park for fans to take the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines to either the 30th St. or 34th St. stop near Franklin Field. SEPTA regional rail has a station in University City across the street from the stadium (www.septa.org).