University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Hosts Gatorade Track Classic Friday and Saturday
April 03, 2002 | Men's Track
April 3, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- When Tennessee's defending national champion track and field squad lines up against Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina this weekend, the Volunteers will have more on the line than just a Gatorade Classic title.
As much as the NCAA titles, SEC trophies, Olympians and hundreds of All-America honorees, Tennessee's propensity to defend its home track stands as a vital part of the Volunteer tradition. On Friday and Saturday, the three Southeastern Conference rivals swoop into the foothills of the Smokies with the firepower to test that tradition in attempts to end Tennessee's 32-year-old home winning streak. Excluding NCAA and SEC Championship meets hosted in Knoxville, Tennessee hasn't tasted defeat in an outdoor team-scored meet on Tom Black Track since 1970. In 1970, Indiana bettered the Vols 78-60, the only time Tennessee has come up on the short end of the stick since Tom Black Track hosted its first meet in 1966.
To mark the meet's 30th anniversary, the Gatorade Classic format has changed from the past two years. This year the Gatorade meet also serves as a team-scored SEC Quad meet. To up the stakes a bit, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina won't see each other again in a team-scored meet until the SEC Outdoor Championships in May.
"These are some of the best teams in the most powerful conference in the nation," head coach Bill Webb said. "Every event will be competitive as these teams try to do something about our home winning streak. This is a great time for fans to come see some of the best track and field in the country right here in Knoxville and all squeezed into just three hours on Saturday. We're hoping for a lively, motivated crowd to help give us a home track advantage."
The meet has also adopted a spectator-friendly time schedule. Most track and field meets with both high-caliber men's and women's fields spread out events all day long for two on up to four days. However, the first men's running event (steeplechase) begins at 2:20 p.m. Saturday. The meet-capping running event, the 4x400M relay, begins at 5:25 p.m. A handful of field events occur Friday from 4:10 p.m. through 7:20 p.m. Saturday's field events run from 2 p.m. through 4:20 p.m. As always, admission is free.
"Our guys have always performed well at home," Webb said. "We beat Florida by half a point indoors at this type of meet on their home track. The fans can also come out to see our three track/football athletes (Leonard Scott, Jabari Greer and Rashad Baker) compete against dual sport athletes the other schools choose to bring."
Tennessee and Florida bring balanced teams to the line Saturday. South Carolina boasts strong sprint and relay units. Meanwhile, Kentucky's middle distance talent is sure to score some points.
In addition to the 4x100M (2:40 p.m.) and 4x400M (5:25 p.m.) relays, four events have superstar fields. In the 800M run (4:10 p.m.), NCAA indoor champion Otukile Lekote of South Carolina and runner-up Marc Sylvester will meet again for the first time since nationals. In addition, Florida's talented Moises Joseph figures to be near the front of the pack, as well. In the 400M dash (3:40 p.m.), Tennessee's Gary Kikaya, Florida's Rickey Harris and South Carolina's Jon Fortenberry and Gerald Pressley will challenge for first.
In the pole vault (3 p.m.), three SEC champions fill the runway. Tennessee's Rocky Danners, Florida's Brian DaCunha and South Carolina's Chris Steddum look to be contenders. The high jump (3:30 p.m.) will be a repeat of the top two at the SEC Indoors as Tennessee's Tim Bell and Florida's Matt Vincent reacquaint themselves.
Vols Open Trackwire Rankings in First Place
