From Jamaica to Philadelphia, a track and field fanatic

Donna MacKenzie says Usain Bolt would know her if he saw her. "Probably," she said.

MacKenzie, 53, a native of Jamaica who lives in Upper Marlboro, Md., is a track and field fanatic. She hasn't missed the national Jamaican track and field championships in 30 years and attends all of the biggest track events the United States has to offer on the East Coast.

MacKenzie moved to the country in 1996 and has attended the Penn Relays every year since 2000. On Thursday, the first full day of events of this year's competition, MacKenzie was seated near the finish line. She politely responded to an interview request, but most of her answers came between cheers or banter with her Jamaican friends, who were among a large contingent of Jamaican fans in attendance.

"I just love track and field," MacKenzie said. "I just get that rush from it. Some people like football. I like track and field."

MacKenzie intently watched each relay on Thursday with program, pencil, and highlighter in hand. She noted the day's marquee races and penciled in some of the top times.

"Just the ones that might make it to the championship," she said.

MacKenzie met Bolt when he was competing as an amateur in the national championships in Jamaica. She was at the Penn Relays in 2010 when Bolt was the anchor of the Jamaican men's 4x100-meter team that won gold.

"There was the grandstand and the bleachers," MacKenzie said when describing her first meeting with Bolt. "He would come into the grandstand. I met him before he became famous."

MacKenzie said Saturdays are always the best days at the Penn Relays because competition most resembles the championships in Jamaica. She used to attend only on Saturdays, but now makes it a point to see every race on every day.

"I realized the girls run on Thursdays, so I started coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday," she said.

MacKenzie said she would be back at the Relays on Friday and Saturday.

"I have to close out the stadium," she said, laughing.