With Bolt competing in same event, SU excited for Penn Relays
With the world’s fastest man running on the same track, Syracuse is chomping at the bit to run at this year’s Penn Relays.
Bernard Bush is a part of a four man 4×100-meter relay group that has a chance of competing in the same race as Usain Bolt, Olympic champion and world-record holder. Bush knew all along that he would be competing in the relay this weekend. Banter at practice this week shifted to talk about competing in the same event as the star of the track and field world.
‘The environment is electrifying,’ Bush said. ‘It’s crazy ? there’s maybe 30-to-40 thousand plus (people). It’s definitely by far one of the biggest environments we jump in here at SU.’
The Penn Relays is now the longest uninterrupted collegiate track meet in the United States. Through its first 115 years, the event has drawn more fans than any other track and field meet in the world other than the Olympics and World Championships. This weekend, athletes will run an average of one race every 5 minutes over 35 hours of competition.
And Bolt, a Jamaican, will be competing there for the first time since he ran as a teenager at the relays from 2001 to 2005.
With several Team USA runners also competing alongside the best collegiate talent in the nation, there will be a unique mix between pro and amateur this weekend. Add in Jamaica’s biggest star to the group, and the three-day showcase looks like it will exceed expectations.
Bush, a native of Tacoma, Wash., has experienced the rivalry between the United States and Jamaica before. And with Bolt’s arrival, it will reach a fevered pitch.
‘They say he’s supposed to be there,’ Bush continued. ‘There’s always this big rivalry between USA and Jamaica. It’s pretty intense.’
Bolt is currently scheduled to compete as part of ‘The USA vs. The World’ series Saturday in the men’s 4×100 relay. Bush, a returning All-American, ran the 4×100 relay last year against a Jamaican team and will quickly attest to how hard it is to compete.
‘It’s definitely intimidating going up against the best talent,’ Bush said. ‘And the crowd is just as intimidating. Once you get past those mentally, then you might be ready to perform.’
With half of the crowd split between the two dominant track and field countries, the Penn Relays sets the standard for the ideal collegiate meet.
From the Penn Relays, every time Bush or any of his teammates compete, they are preparing themselves for a higher level of competition in the latter parts of the outdoor season. Beginning with last week’s Princeton Larry Ellis Invitational, SU head coach Chris Fox has continuously instilled this into the mindset of the team.
‘What we look for is another positive step,’ Fox said. ‘Each two-to-three week period when we race, we expect to get a little bit better. I don’t see any indication that we’re going to be off our game.’
While still understanding the magnitude of the event, Bush specifically has a few names on his mind that he’s looking to track down this weekend. Beyond Bolt.
‘Pretty much all the guys I faced at nationals last year,’ he said. ‘You got Tyron Stewart (Texas A&M), you got Reindell Cole (Cal State-Northridge), just the top jumpers in the nation.’
Tito Medrano, a sophomore long distance runner, will also be making this weekend’s trip. Medrano will be running the second leg of the mile relay with Jeff Scull, Dan Busby and Brad Miller. Unlike Bush, however, Medrano has never been to the Penn Relays and is ready to see what all the hype is about.
‘It’s an honor to be able to run on that relay team with three seniors as a sophomore,’ Medrano said. ‘It’s pretty exciting.’
Medrano can remember hearing about the relays as a senior in high school when he was being recruited by SU. That year’s team shocked many surrounding schools when Kyle Hughes shot the team to third place.
This weekend, coming off a year that included several key injuries, Medrano is looking to regain a similar level of expectations for SU and help out in any way possible.
Even if there is no shot he can compete against Bolt.
‘There’s not too much pressure on the second leg. It’s just don’t screw up.,’ Medrano said. ‘I’m not leading off, and I’m not leading off to the anchor guy. Just keep us in there — that’s my job.’
