First Maryland, Now Penn, What’s Next?

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — May 10th, 2003

__________________________________________________________________________________

First Maryland, Now Penn, What’s Next?

The Penn Relays is one of the most historical track meets in the country. 

 

Athletes and spectators travel from all around the country to participate and watch the three-day meet.

 

The Penn Relays have been running strong since the first meet was held April 21, 1895. The University of Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the its Spring Handicap Track and Field Games, held the first track meet. 

 

Even the Cosby Show dedicated an episode to the Penn Relays when Cliff Huxtable was invited to run anchor leg on the 4x400 relay against his former opponent Charlie Stevenson.

 

The Penn Relays have been a tradition for more that a hundred years, but the legacy doesn't stop there.

 

The Track Bison have been establishing a tradition of their own.

 

For the second straight year, the men have won their section of the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:13.65. Last year they turned numerous heads winning the 4x400 and this year they proved that it wasn't a fluke. 

 

"We don't worry about what folks on the outside say," head coach Michael Merritt said. "They run for themselves. They have a special love and passion for track." 

 

The men's 4x800 also made a statement finishing in a time of 7:38:86, good enough for eleventh place.

 

They demonstrated that they could run with anybody in the country when they beat UMBC, UConn, Army, Navy, Cincinnati, California, and Pittsburgh. 

 

However, Coach Merritt still wasn't pleased because he said that they should have beaten St. Joseph's, who finished two seconds faster.

 

The best performance came from David Oliver, who made it to the finals of the 110-meter high hurdles and finished eighth in a field of 30. He is currently ranked eighth in the nation and his goal is "to get a number and finish All-American," Oliver said.

 

The women also shined finishing fifth in their section of the 4x400 with a time of 3:47:12 that was enough to get them to the College Championship Finals.

 

They did not run because of injury, a consistent thorn in their side that has been plaguing them for the entire season.

 

The Track Bison also had to compete against the unpredictable weather this spring, and the Penn Relays were no exception. 

 

"It was decent on Thursday and Friday, but Saturday it was a little cold and a little wet outside," Oliver said. 

 

Merritt also agreed that the weather was a factor because some people don't run as well in cold, rainy conditions. 

 

The 4x400 that took their section this year had to be reordered because of injuries to Taj Alvaranga and Dennis Washington.

 

"After Taj and Dennis got injured, we had to replace them with Drew and Tola," said Merritt. "We were forced to go outside the norm."

 

The Track Bison continue to run over their competition, but they say that they don't get enough support from students on campus.

 

"Everyone who should know, knows. Our performance speaks for itself," Oliver said. "We're the best team on campus. We won the MEAC Cross Country title, we have top individual performers and we beat Maryland, a big ACC team. No other team on campus can go against the big dogs and roll on them at their house."

 

Merritt added that they run against the clock and not people. He's not worried about Howard's competitors. Thanks to a supportive administration, he's not worried about money either.

 

"The administration gave me a budget and I am properly funded, I have no complaints with them," he said.

 

The Track Bison have one more meet to qualify for the George Mason Invitational.

"We'll have a stronger outdoor performance compared to last season," Merritt said. "We have a younger group stepping up. We're trying to qualify and get to Regionals so we can get recognition and enhance visibility and recruiting."