Simon Brennan '26
May 9, 2025
Mercersburg Academy’s boys and girls track teams competed in the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field last week on Thursday and Saturday. Both teams sent their 4x400 relay teams to the prestigious event, which attracts about 15,000 participants and thousands of fans annually.
The boys team, consisting of Ryan Du Plessis ‘25, Iman Zhakan ‘26, Arnav Rao ‘26, and Gustavo Lisboa Ferreira Santana ‘26, approached the race on Thursday strategically. “We had Ryan lead off because he's the most explosive and could give us a strong start,” Rao said. The strategy proved effective, with Du Plessis finishing his leg in first place. Zhakan echoed the sentiment,“It played out as well as we hoped.”
Despite the high level of competition, the team navigated challenges well. “During my leg, I was cut off and hit a few times, which slowed me down, but I still managed to get the baton to my person at the same time as our competition,” Du Plessis explained. “The handoffs were always a challenge because of the amount of people in the heat,” said Zhakan. “Making sure we got the baton properly was a big concern, but I think it went well.”
The meet represented a milestone for the anchor Santana ‘26, who is new to track and field. “When I got the baton from Arnav, we were in second place. I tried to hold that position for the first 150 meters; it was tough, but I managed to finish with a good time.”
The girls team, featuring Anne Sehon ‘25, Ella Blanco ‘26, Adrienne Howard ‘26, and Teresa Nyarko ‘28, competed on Saturday in front of a packed stadium. Sehon, who has competed at Penn Relays in all four years of her Mercersburg career, noted the special atmosphere. “The entire stadium is filled. When you run, you don't even realize you're running because the stadium is so loud.”
The girls focused more on the experience than on specific performance goals. “We didn't really have a strategy, we just wanted to race as fast as we could and have fun,” Blanco ‘26 said. “Most of us did better than we had done all season.”
For freshman Nyarko, the scale of the event was breath-taking. “Racing at Penn Relays opened my eyes to the bigger scheme of things. Track and field is such a big sport, and seeing so many other faces preparing to run captivated me.”
The event showcased the depth and growth of Mercersburg’s track program. “We have a really deep relay squad,” Sehon explained. “We have a lot of people who’ve been running 400s. This was just our fastest four at the time, and I think that changes almost every single week.”
For many athletes, competing at Penn Relays represented fulfilling a goal. “Having the opportunity to compete at Penn Relays means a lot,” Du Plessis said. “It's a legendary meet known nationwide. I think it gives Mercersburg athletes something to work towards."
The experience held special significance for Sehon, whose mother also competed at Penn Relays during her high school career. “It's definitely my favorite track meet to run at. My mom ran there for all four years, as well as I, and this was her first year coming to see it. So it was really roundabout and special.”
As track season continues, both relay teams will build on their Penn Relays experience as they prepare for upcoming competitions, carrying forward the momentum gained from competing on one of track and field’s biggest stages.