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120th Penn Relays Underway In University City

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's a sure sign of Spring in Philadelphia: School buses lining up by the dozens outside of Franklin Field for the Penn Relays. The relays got underway, Thursday, with thousands of high school girls, taking their turn at passing the baton.

KYW's Pat Loeb was watching in the stands.

More than a thousand high schools are competing in the three-day meet. Girls events dominate the first day, giving athletes like Mecca Harris and Cindy George of New Jersey's Petty School the opportunity of a lifetime.

"It was an experience, absolutely it was an experience," Harris said.

"It's larger, much larger pool of people, it's completely different, you have your adrenalin going, it goes by really quickly," George said.

They did better than they've ever done before so it was a good outing for them, now they know what it takes to be a champion cause these girls are the best in the world. They're amazing."

Parents, like Mecca's mom, tend to fill the stands the first day, along with aunts and uncles and those who just love the sport.

"I'm a big track and field fan. I come every year for the whole three days because it's just awesome."

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