theNYCphysio

One of my most memorable domestic meets with USA Track and Field was fairly close to home at the 2019 Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Back then, there was a portion of the meet called USA vs. The World. In all fairness, it was a track event that pitted mostly USA vs Jamaica in the sprint relays. I’ve been to events all over the states. This was by far one of the more fun events I’ve worked. Not necessarily because the stands were filled with a  bunch of “track fans”. But because the majority of the crowd was Jamaican (or at least pro-Jamaican). Outside of the elite sprinters competing in USA vs. The World, the Penn Relays also included athletes competing at the high school, college, and master’s levels (mostly from the US and Jamaica). So this event definitely fanned the flames for our sprint rivalries at all levels of track competition.

At most meets, the physios are hidden under a tent far away from the hustle and bustle of the meet. The Penn Relays were different. We had our tables on the infield of the track. We were actually doing bodywork on the athletes while the event was going on all around us! In addition, this event, one of the oldest track events in the world, was being held on one of the most historic track stadiums in the US, Franklin Field. 

Our medical staff was me, an athletic trainer, and a chiro. Our tables were lined up on the infield with our Team USA athletes, separated by a small fence where the Jamaican and Canadian staff and athletes were stationed. As we worked, we were surrounded by the roar of the crowd as each event took place. The atmosphere was electric!

And then it was our turn. USA vs. The World in the 4×100, 4×400, and sprint medley relay. Because we were on the infield, it was one of the first times I was able to watch a track event from the “inside!” I so was stoked! And WOW! The Jamaican crowd drowned out the USA cheers by a mile! It was so hard to fathom how many more Jamaican fans there were than my own Team USA fans on our own turf. But that’s exactly what happened. 

I always wanted to come back and work this meet with USA Track and Field. However, even though the Penn Relays lives on, sadly, USA vs. The World is an event no more. It was definitely one of those events I look back upon and think, “Did that actually happen? That was AWESOME!”