By Andre Brown

Photo Credit: Trackdaypix

On December 12, 2024, the Philadelphia Public League, joined by their Catholic League counterparts, opened their indoor track season at the brand-new Ott Center, a cutting-edge facility on the University of Pennsylvania campus.



While it may not rival a “man-on-the-moon” moment, the occasion marked a giant leap forward for local athletes. Gone are the days of braving icy roads to upstate Pennsylvania or traveling hours to New York or Maryland for indoor meets. For the first time, Philadelphia athletes have a world-class venue in their own backyard.



The Ott Center promises to be a game-changer, offering athletes and coaches a true home-field advantage and a platform for faster times later in the season. But on December 12, the spotlight belonged to District 12—and they didn’t disappoint, delivering a thrilling evening of track and field.



Over 36 public, Catholic, and charter schools participated, with athletes competing fiercely on the track and in field events. The evening began with the girls’ 60-meter dash, where Zeinab Doumbia of Palumbo narrowly edged out Kai Oliver of Girls’ High in a photo finish, clocking times of 8.04 and 8.06 seconds, respectively.



The energy continued to build as standout senior Shaun McCoullum took the line in the boys’ 60-meter dash. While James King clinched the victory in an impressive 6.92 seconds, McCoullum wasn’t finished, returning later in the evening to make his mark in the 200 meters.



In the 60-meter hurdles, Amarah Crabbe of West Catholic captured the girls’ title, while Corey Demas of Archbishop Ryan took the top spot for the boys.



The meet also featured its first relay events, with Imhotep Charter dominating the 4×800 relays by winning both the boys’ and girls’ races. Imhotep’s boys’ team also secured a commanding victory in the 4×400 relay.



The 4×200 relays, however, saw different schools shine. John Bartram High School’s girls’ team took the win with a time of 1:50.79, while the boys of Northeast High clocked a blistering 1:33.10 to claim their victory.



With a successful debut meet at the Ott Center, District 12 has set the tone for an exciting indoor season ahead. For the athletes and their supporters, this is more than just a new venue—it’s a new era for track and field in Philadelphia.

The full meet results can be found on PennTrackXc