An honor like no other... your name etched into history and on a wall of one of the most epic stadiums in the world. Beginning in 1994 at the time of the 100th running of the Penn Relays, we happily announce the 29th class of inductees to the Penn Relays Wall of Fame, bringing the number of individuals to 126, plus 115 relay teams, each selected by a panel of Penn Relays historians.
The inductees are honored solely for their accomplishments at the Penn Relays presented by Toyota; achievements in any other meets are not considered. Any relay team may be nominated, and nominations of relay teams and individuals will be accepted by the Penn Relays office at any time and from any interested party by completing this NOMINATION FORM.
Without further ado, let's introduce you to the three individuals and three relay teams that create the Class of 2024!
NICK VENA
Morristown (NJ) HS 2008-11, Virginia 2012
A four-time winner of the high school boys’ shot put, Vena was a high school star starting as a freshman in 2008. He was selected as the outstanding high school male athlete in individual events after winning the shot put at 63-6¾ (19.37). As a sophomore, he set three Relays records at 69-7 ½ (21.22), 70-5¾ (21.48) and 72-2½ (22.01) and repeated as the outstanding athlete for individual events. His junior year win came with a throw of 70-5¾ (21.48). A pair of Relays records featured his senior year at 72-8 (22.15) and 72-9¼ (22.18), his final record lasting until 20.16.
TERRENCE TRAMMELL
South Carolina 1998-2000, USA 2002
Twice a winner of the college championship 110-meter hurdles, Trammell set a Relays record of 13.30 in the heats as a South Carolina junior in 2000. Trammell won the final in 13.34, and his record is the longest standing men’s hurdles Carnival record, existing now for 24 years. He won the hurdles the year before in 13.47 and was selected the Carnival’s outstanding college male athlete in individual events. As a freshman in 1998, he ran lead-off for the winning sprint medley team. He earned a fourth watch while running third leg for the U.S. team in the USA/World 4x200 in 2002.
SHALONDA SOLOMON
Long Beach Poly 2003-04, South Carolina 2005-07
A sprint relays champion in high school and college, Solomon won seven watches during her Relays career. At Long Beach Poly she ran lead-off on the championship 4x100 in 2003, and anchored the 4x400 team to wins in ’03 and ’04. Her anchor split of 51.6 in ’03 was a Relays record, which helped her earn honors as the meet’s outstanding female high school relay athlete. While in college at South Carolina she anchored the Championship of America winning 4x100 in 2005 and ’07, and also won watches anchoring the 2005 4x200 and running 2nd leg on the ’07 4x400.
2003 LONG BEACH POLY (CA) 4x400 RELAY
Shantae McKinney, Jasmine Lee, Shana Woods, Shalonda Solomon
The 2003 Long Beach Poly 4x400-meter Relay team won the high school girls’ championship in 3:35.55, the second fastest time in Carnival history. The team of Shantae McKinney (56.1), Jasmine Lee (52.8), Shana Woods (55.1) and Shalonda Solomon (51.6) broke a two-year old national high school record. Poly’s national record lasted one year until broken by Poly in 2004.
1981 TENNESSEE STATE 4x400 RELAY
Ernestine Davis, Judy Pollion, Debra Jones, Chandra Cheeseborough
In 1981 Tennessee State’s 4x400-meter Relay team of Ernestine Davis (53.2), Judy Pollion (54.2), Debra Jones (53.1) and Wall of Famer Chandra Cheeseborough (52.5) set a Relay Carnival record of 3:33.04. The record lasted until 1983, the fifth year the event had been contested as a Championship of America. The three runners other than Cheeseborough ran on the Tigerbelles winning 4x400 in 1980.
1983 WEST PHILADELPHIA HS 4x400 RELAY
Ronald Hillian, Douglas Burton, Bernard Williams, Alan Laws
The 1983 West Philadelphia High School 4x400-meter relay team of Ronald Hillian (50.4), Douglas Burton (48.2), Bernard Williams (48.0) and Alan Laws (46.4) was the first Philadelphia team to win the high school championship since Overbrook won the mile relay in 1941. West Philly’s time was the 2nd-fastest in Carnival history when it was run, as well as the fastest time run in the championship final.
The 2024 Penn Relays presented by Toyota is set for April 25-27 at the historic Franklin Field, where the Class of 2024 will be recognized and inducted into this prestigious group. The ticket renewal process for previous buyers for the 2024 Penn Relays will begin on Friday, December 15, 2023, when a limited availability of premium finish line seating will go on sale. All other reserved and general admission tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, January 29, 2024.
Renewals for 2023 Penn Relays buyers are currently open now. Click HERE to renew.