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The Penn Relays offer some of the best high school track and field competition in the nation year after year.
Here is a look at the competition this year:
Michael S. Wirtz/Staff Photographer
North Carolina's Gabby Gioia won the Heptathlon.
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Boys
400-METER HURDLES
Favorite: Nicholas Maitland of St. Elizabeth Tech (Jamaica) has a personal-best time of 52.19 seconds. Local teams to watch: Washington Township's Tim Carey (54.07) and Octorara's Manny Morris (55.18). Penn Relays record: Camden's Dwight Ruff ran a 50.47 in 2001.
MILE RUN
Favorite: Jimmy Rae of Lakeshore (Canada) won the mile in 4 minutes, 10.09 seconds at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in March. Local to watch: Ocean City's Brett Johnson (4:12.49) is the only local in the event. Penn Relays record: Matthew Centrowitz of Broadneck (Va.) won the event in 4:08.38 in 2007.
3,000 RUN
Favorite: Solomon Haile of Sherwood (Md.) was last year's runner-up. He won the two-mile race at the National Scholastic indoor meet in 9:02.67. Locals to watch: Lower Merion's Ben Furcht (8:36.17) and Shawnee's David Forward (9:17.71 over 3,200). Meet record: John Trautmann of Monroe-Valley (N.Y.) won the event in 8:05.8 in 1996.
4x100 RELAY
Favorite: Calabar (Jamaica) has run 39.90 this season. Local teams to watch: Camden (42.54) and North Penn (42.57). Penn Relays record: St. Jago finished in 39.96 in 2007.
4x400 RELAY
Favorite: Kingston College (Jamaica) ran 3:09.38 at the Gibson Relays in March. Local teams to watch: Abington (3:20.08) and Delsea (3:20.10). Penn Relays record: John Muir (Calif.) won in 3:08.72 in 1997.
4x800 RELAY
Favorite: Albemarle (Va.) set a U.S. indoor national record of 7:36.99 at the Nike Indoor Nationals in March. Local teams to watch: Central Bucks South (7:49.01) and Washington Township (7:51.43). Penn Relays record: St. Jago posted a time of 7:35.89 in 1990.
DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY
Favorite: West-Windsor-Plainsboro South ran a 10.07.21 at the Eastern State indoor championships in February. Local teams to watch: Upper Dublin (10:14.39) and Haddonfield (10:19.29). Penn Relays record: South Lakes won in 9:59.66 in 2001.
SHOT PUT
Favorite: Nick Vena of Morristown (N.J.) is the defending champion. The sophomore won the event at the National Scholastic meet in 70 feet, 5 inches. Locals to watch: Methacton's Wesley Lavong (62-5) is the only local competitor in the event. Penn Relays record: J.J. Grant of Liverpool (N.Y.) won with a throw of 67-3 in 1985.
DISCUS
Favorite: Anthony Thomas of Holy Trinity (N.Y.) threw 181-4 in a meet last month. Locals to watch: Timber Creek's Mike Huckabee (174-10), Middle Township's Kevin Hebron (160-8) and Kennett's Blake Davenport (160-7). Penn Relays record: Nick Welihozkiy won the event with a 190-11 in 1999.
LONG JUMP
Favorite: James Taylor of Nansemond River (Va.) posted the nation's second-best indoor leap of 24-8 in February. Locals to watch: Methacton's Carlton Lavong (24-2 3/4) and Camden's Syteek Farrington (23-9). Penn Relays record: Maurice Wignell of Calabar won the event with a 25-23/4 in 1994.
TRIPLE JUMP
Favorite: Ricardo Jaquite of Madison Park (Mass.) finished second at the Nike Indoor National with a 49-11 effort. Locals to watch: Camden's Wayne Walls (48-11/4) and Cardinal O'Hara's James Johnson (44-61/2). Penn Relays record: Sanya Owolabi of Sleepy Hollow (N.Y.) won the event with a 52-23/4 in 1978.
