The Penn Relays (also Penn Relays Carnival) is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. It regularly attracts more than 15,000 participants from high schools, colleges, and track clubs throughout North America, including Xavier University of Louisiana, and abroad, competing in more than 300 events over five days.
This year, Xavier's historic relay team from 1942 (below, in a photo from the Library's Digital Archives) was featured in both Sports Illustrated (click here for video) and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Visit the the Digital Archives for more historical photos like this.
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Photograph of the University of Pennsylvania Relay Carnival with Xavier University of Louisiana Track and Field Squad. Identified from left to right: Left front Herbert Douglas, Left back Howard Mitchell, Left back Clarence Doak, Right front Edward Culp, Right back Coach Giles Wright, Right back William Martin |
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