Security spikes for Penn Relays

John Webb of Vineland, N.J., has been coming to the Penn Relays since 1962, and the security precautions that greeted him Thursday for the three-day event were a first.

"Unfortunately, in these days, it is a necessary evil," Webb said. "This is just the way it's going to be from now on, something you have to resign yourself to."

Fresh off the Boston Marathon bombings, athletes and spectators during Thursday's opening were subject to baggage checks and metal-detection wands. Backpacks were forbidden inside the events.

Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania police were out in force, and hundreds of people who attended had to wait in long lines, which are expected to continue through the end of the event Saturday.

"It's the world at the moment," said Maureen S. Rush, Penn vice president of public safety and superintendent of campus police. "There's definitely a cost to putting on a large event."

The large visual show of police force, including the Philadelphia Police Homeland Security Unit, will be at Franklin Field as a precaution against terrorist activity, officials said.

"We want people to feel safe," Rush said. "We understand people might be concerned about traveling to a track and field event since Boston."

The April 15 Boston bombing killed three people and injured nearly 300.

The attack prompted authorities in Philadelphia to institute tighter security measures at large-scale events. The purpose of prohibiting Penn Relays spectators from bringing backpacks into Franklin Field is to greatly reduce the items carried inside, Rush said.

"It's meant to say, 'Don't bring a lot of stuff,' " she said. "Our number-one priority is safety and security for our community and visitors to the campus."

Claire Incantalupo, a first-time Penn Relays participant and junior from Sparta High School in North Jersey, said the Boston tragedy "makes me more aware and cautious." She said her relay team reviewed the heightened security rules, "making sure we could pack our spikes" for the storied sporting event.

Some of the spectators who arrived early Thursday were told they couldn't bring camera bags to the relays. But camera bags are allowed, Rush said. She added that event staffers may have misinterpreted the backpack prohibition. Even so, "we've had no major complaints or incidents," Rush said. "People are being very cooperative."

Rush said Thursday's security measures will be in place for the rest of the 119th annual relays and that she foresees enforcing those same precautions for the 2014 event.

The security operation for the relays comprises officers from the Penn and Philadelphia police, including SWAT, K9, and Homeland Security units, as well as the FBI Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force and contracted security personnel, said Rush, who added that officers on horseback are also patrolling the event.

"We are very big on having that visual presence out there as a visual deterrent," said Alan Garry, ambassador operations manager for the University City District, a nonprofit that promotes a safe and clean community.

"It's unfortunate you have to go through these extremes in this society," said track coach Brian Golub of Freehold Township (N.J.) High School. "Boston was a big-time tragedy. You don't want to see that repeated anywhere."