2025 Penn Relays, Day 2, watching a very busy day of track and field, by Orin Konheim

2025 Penn Relays, Day 2, watching a hectic day of track and field, by Orin Konheim

As promised, today was a significantly more packed event. But the question abounds: Where is the best seat in the stadium?

The answer seems to be nowhere and everywhere.

If you sit at the northeastern corner by the 33^rd street entrance of the stadium, you’ll be able to see the finish line for the 4 X 4 and mile races. You might also know the efficiency of the athletes lined up like rows of cattle before their races. It’s always insightful to see how in-the-zone the athletes are before their race, which you get here.

On the opposite end (the southwestern corner) is the finishing line for the 400-meter hurdles, 1500, 5K, and 100-meter hurdles.  Along that western flank is where a lot of the collegiate athletes gather. The prestigious University of Washington and Villanova squads are just taking in the events, so there’s a sense of seeing the events like you’re among the stars.

According to media relations spokesman Kyle Gerganious, the seats are priced differently. While they do end in different locations, the most expensive seats are where the prestigious Championship of America races have their finish lines.

Ironically, the best view of the landscape is along the southern flank. Climb high enough, and you are completely sheltered from the heat with a gorgeous view of the Philly skyline. On the Southern flank, there are primarily high school contingents. You might find the kind camped in an infield at an ordinary track meet.

There, I visited a casual friend of mine, West Springfield coach Chris Pelligrini. Ironically, one of his assistants began his coaching career at my high school (Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia) before being poached by West Springfield. Chris attended college locally and started coaching at his alma mater after graduating. He’s now one of the elder statesmen here: This is his 23^rd Penn Relays appearance as a coach.

I was expecting a casual catch-up, but Coach Pelligrini got into the action and commented on the relays below in a way that riled up his fellow coaches and athletes.

“One, I really want them to love the sport, and two, because they might start to recognize some of their own things in their training,” he…