It’s an event that draws some of the top amateurs and professionals from around the globe.

It’s one that’s also become a staple on one area program’s calendar.

When thousands of athletes descend on the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Franklin Field for the Penn Relays, Marian is alongside them.

After a brief hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 126th running of the event took place last week, with Marian taking three relay teams to compete among future state, national, and Olympic champions.

It’s an opportunity to perform in the presence of greatness. And gain a greater appreciation for the sport.

“The tradition for Penn Relays started probably about 10 or so years ago when John Boyle was the coach,” said current Marian mentor Justin Huegel. “He always talked about it being something that he wanted the program to experience because it is one of the great traditions in track and field. Over the past 10 years – with the exclusion of the two years for COVID – we have made it a point to get down there.”

Huegel said he explains to his team why he believes it’s so important.

“I tell the kids, you go to invites and you go to the competitions to compete and to improve yourself. But you go to the Penn Relays to fall in love with the sport.

“It’s just amazing to see all the teams from around the world ... you see teams from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, all 50 states - and be able to take part in that, and be able to be in the presence of all that, is just something that’s so significant. It’s a tradition which allows our kids to see that there is something that’s out there for them if they continue to work, continue to get better.”

From the first time Marian went, the returns were positive - and the impact was immense.

“The response we always get every time I ask them, ‘So what did you think?’ is, ‘I want to run,’” said Huegel. “Right away they want to run, they want to be able to do something that allows them to be a part of it.

“When they go down there and they take it all in, words usually can’t describe it, and it’s something that they need to experience to understand and look at it and say to themselves, ‘This sport is bigger than I ever thought it could be.’”

Taking place toward the end of the regular season, the Penn Relays are also a good tuneup before the postseason begins – another area where the program typically shines.

“With the positioning of where it’s at in the season, it’s at a point where everybody’s starting to kind of hit their stride, and starting to push towards where they think they’re going to be at the end of the year,” said Huegel.

Marian brought its girls’ 400 and 1600 relay teams, along with the boys’ 400 relay team to the Penn Relays this season.

A total of 12 athletes and two alternates made the trip to Franklin Field.

For all except Grace Curnow, who went as an alternate her freshman year, it was their first time competing.

“Grace wasn’t able to run then, but she was able to go down and take everything in,” said Huegel. “With it not being held the last two seasons because of COVID, being able to return this season for Grace’s senior year is just something that as a coach is really cool to see come full circle.”

Joining Curnow on the 1600 relay were Lizzy Pikitus, Isa Genao and Emma Ashfield, with Ava Fritz serving as the alternate. Caitlyn Kovatch, Ashley Pleban, Kerrigan Digris and Carly Minchhoff were on the 400 relay team.

Steven Kostecky, Josian Hernandez, Mike Fellin and Jake Fenstermaker were on the boys’ 400 relay, with Jesse Rodino also making the trip as the alternate.

Pikitus’ sister, Andraya, had run at the Penn Relays her sophomore and junior years.

“We’ve had the opportunity over many, many years to be able to see some of the cooler things in the sport take place,” said Huegel. “We’ve been able to see alumni run. Tina Capparell (who competed in the 3000 steeplechase for the University of Delaware) ran this past Thursday. One of the cooler moments, too, in 2019, two of our now alumni – Camaryn and Jamison Wheeler – Camaryn was running for Moravian, and Jamison was running for us. We have a picture of them standing in the two different uniforms by the track after both of them had run for their respective schools. Those moments are the ones that make it so special to be able to say, ‘I ran here in high school. I ran here in college.’ “Then getting to see your sister, or your sibling be able to run, and do the same thing you did, it not only becomes a track tradition, but a family tradition as well.”

The family connections are present throughout the Marian program.

“Jamison Wheeler, who is currently at the Naval Academy Preparatory School and will be going to Annapolis next year, sent the team a package before we left to come down here with ribbons and hair spray, snacks for the ride down and back, and a note encouraging them and telling them to enjoy it,” said Huegel. “Coming from someone like Jamison, who ran here for two years, and then unfortunately had her chance to run here as junior and senior have taken away (by COVID), it really shows the significance of it, not only as a runner, but as a tradition for our program.

“Every year it seems that right around Penn Relays, I’ll hear from some alumni. Tina (Capparell) texted me a week before asking if we were going to be there. And every year it kind of goes like that where somebody that’s been with us before always reaches out to see who’s going this season and asking if we could meet up just to be able to see each other. That’s been another tradition throughout the years that’s been maintained and is really special.”

Huegel, now entering his fifth year as the program’s coach, still keeps in touch with Boyle, who now coaches at Ridley High School, in Folsom, Delaware County. The Ridley girls’ 1600 relay team placed second in the Philadelphia Central girls championship with a season best time of 3:59 in the event.

“Believe it or not, every time we’re down there, no matter if I talk to him the week before or a month before, whenever it is, he always ends up sitting right next to us,” said Huegel. “I don’t know how it happens, but every single year we always end up in the same section sitting with one another.

“To see him be able to carry on that legacy at another school, after the impact he made on our program and reestablishing it as one of the premier programs in the county and in the state, is a testament to his vision and what he’s been able to do as a coach with multiple athletes and with multiple programs.”

It’s a tradition that started with Boyle. And it’s legacy continues with Huegel.

“One of the things we look forward to every year is being able to do this with the kids, as well as keeping the tradition alive. It’s something that we do not take lightly,” he said. “It’s something that’s not only a reward for all the hard work and dedication to the program, but it provides a memory - and no matter what else happens in their track careers, they can tell everybody they ran at the Penn Relays.”

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TENNIS TIME ... Lehighton’s Aaron Miller and Bayto Cokrlija earned the No. 7 seed for next week’s District 11 Class 2A doubles tournament, which begins Monday at Lehigh University. The first round and quarterfinals will take place Monday, followed by the semis and finals Wednesday at Parkland. It’s been a banner season for Miller and the Indians. Miller was undefeated during the regular season and earned the No. 3 seed in the singles’ tournament, and Lehighton qualified for the team tournament as the fifth seed after finishing the year with an 11-3 record. Jim Thorpe’s Brendan McDermott and Haven Johnson are the first alternates for Class 2A, while Palmerton’s Justin Sebelin and Riley Fallon will be the third alternates.

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MAKING HISTORY … With an 11-5 victory over Northampton on Saturday, the Northwestern Lehigh boys’ lacrosse team officially clinched a berth in the District 11 Class 2A playoffs this season. It will be the first time in program history that the Tiger boys will take part in the postseason. Northwestern is currently 9-7 overall on the season – the best mark in program history – with two contests left in the regular season.

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PODIUM WORTHY … A number of area athletes – and teams – enjoyed success at East Stroudsburg South’s Cavalier Invitational this past Friday. Jim Thorpe’s Laura Clarke (shot put, discus) and Kaila O’Connor (100, 200) both picked up a pair of wins as the Olympian girls shared the team title with Northampton, as each finished with 93 points. Lehighton’s Brittney Bartasavage (100H, 300H) and Palmerton’s Nataly Walters (long jump, triple jump) both also had a pair of first-place finishes.

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RECORD BREAKERS … Jim Thorpe’s Aiden Clements and Laura Clarke each had performances to remember on Monday. Clements established a school record in the pole vault, clearing 13-3. Clarke has already broken a school record this season in one of her events – the discus. She extended her record in the event on Monday with a throw of 114-5.

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DOUBLE THE FUN … Marian swept Executive Education Academy Charter School in a softball doubleheader on Saturday. Fillies’ ace Morgan Kelly struck out 16 in a 6-2 win in the first game. She tossed a perfect game – recording eight out of nine outs in the three-inning contest via a strikeout – in a 17-0 victory in Game 2.

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NO HITS, NO PROBLEM … The Pleasant Valley baseball team was on the wrong end of a no-hitter on Monday. It didn’t matter to the Bears, who came away with a 1-0 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference victory over Dieruff. Austin Ratti walked to lead off the sixth inning, and later moved into scoring position on a Nathan Loch groundout. Dominic Payan’s sacrifice bunt moved Ratti to third base, and a wild pitch allowed Ratti to score what turned out to be the game-winning run. PV pitcher Blake Walters threw a three-hit shutout to earn the win.