PSWA Dinner

Sarah Bowman has been competing, and winning at the Penn Relays since she was in high school in Warrenton, Va., and last year, as a college senior, she helped the Volunteers win three Championship of America relays, setting two all-time records in the process.

Bowman anchored Tennessee to first place in the distance medley relay on Thursday of the Relays, holding off the second-place finisher by less than one second, but saved the best for later in the weekend. First, on Friday, she anchored the 4×1500-meter relay to first place in a time of 17:08.34, which was not only a new Penn Relays and NCAA record, but also the world’s best time ever run in the event.

She returned on Saturday to run the third leg of the 4×800-meters, handing off to anchor runner Phoebe Wright, who crossed the finish line in 8:17.91, another Penn Relays and U.S. national record.

Bowman’s first Penn Relays appearances were harbingers of what was to come. Running for Farquier High School, she won the high school girls 1500 meters championship as both a junior and senior.

Sarah Bowman is the fourth winner of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Penn Relays/Frank Dolson Award, named for the former Association President and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist. She’ll receive the award at the Association’s Awards Dinner on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010.

The PSWA awards dinner will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. Tickets are $75. Click here to order tickets online.