The Boston Marathon “scream tunnel’’ at Wellesley College is known for a few things: A drunken party filled with shrieks and cheers, clever handwritten signs held by students — and kisses. After a few cautious years during the COVID-19 pandemic, some students Monday returned to the storied Marathon tradition with full gusto.

Jessica Cohen, a Wellesley junior, sat on the shoulders of a friend as she craned her body onto the track, attempting to attract runners to her “Kiss me, I’m from Worcester, Massachusetts’’ sign.

The kissing hopeful had received one peck on the cheek so far, but was expecting more throughout the afternoon.

“I don’t know how it’s going to pan out, but I’m going to do my level best, I swear,’’ she said.

Elsa Parent, a Wellesley junior, was caught off guard by a runner who stopped in his tracks to kiss her on the mouth.

She stepped away from the rails to share her experience with a Boston Globe reporter before hurrying away to return to her post.

Cecilia Cai, 20, another Wellesley student, leaned over the barrier separating fans from the running route, displaying a sign that read “Kiss me I’m Wasian,’’ a term used to describe biracial people who are part white and part Asian.

The tradition dwindled in popularity in recent years, as Wellesley administration and the Boston Athletic Association warned the student body to be more cautious in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Runners were advised to refrain from “kissing a stranger around the halfway mark of the Boston Marathon’’ in the BAA’s 2021 health and safety memo. During the peak of the virus, some fans resorted to blowing kisses instead.

But for Teddy Hughes, a Wellesley freshman, the tradition has never felt more alive.

“I think this is where Wellesley shines,’’ she said. “Where everyone can participate regardless of anything, you literally just come outside your dorm and come here.’’ Hughes had been waiting for Marathon Monday all year, and was not disappointed with the kisses she received early in the race.

Her “I’m a great kisser wanna try?’’ sign resulted in a rather large smooch from a male runner. “This was my first boy kiss,’’ said Hughes, who prefers women. “And he was good too.’’

Alexa Coultoff can be reached at alexa.coultoff@globe.com. Follow her @alexacoultoff. Madeline Khaw can be reached at maddie.khaw@globe.com. Follow her @maddiekhaw.