University of Tennessee Athletics
Penn Relays Headline Busy Weekend for Volunteers
April 23, 2003 | Men's Track
April 23, 2003
The third-ranked Volunteers report for duty in three meets in different states this competitive weekend as the schedule moves ever nearer its championship conclusion.
Tennessee heads north to take its familiar place in Philadelphia's Penn Relays, the nation's most historic track meet in America's most historic city, with the Vols racing around Franklin Field Thursday through Saturday under the direction of assistants George Watts and Vince Anderson. Meanwhile, head coach Bill Webb brings about a dozen field event specialists to the Bluegrass State for Louisville's Cardinal Open stretching into late Friday night. Finally, the whirlwind weekend winds up on the home confines of Tom Black Track Sunday for the Knoxville Invitational, where the Vols may suit up about 20 depending on how results from the rest of the weekend shape up.
"The Volunteers have represented for a long time at the Penn Relays," head coach Bill Webb said. "They fly the Tennessee flag over the Penn Relays every year for a reason. We're defending champions in three events, although this year we'll only be defending the shuttle hurdle relays title. We'll be highly competitive in the shuttle hurdle relay and sprint medley relay. We're also fielding good relays in the distances with the 4x800m relay, distance medley relay and 4xMile relay. Absolutely this is one of the biggest, most prestigious meets in the country. People come every year to see the Vols at the Penn Relays."
Since 1949, Tennessee has notched 66 winners at the Penn Relays. Since 1966, the Volunteers have won 28 Penn Relays "Championships of America", the third-most of any school. The shuttle hurdle relay has proven the Vols' most reliable calling card, with 13 Penn Relay championships in the event since 1966, more than twice as many as any other school. This time around the Volunteers hope to defend their 2002 shuttle hurdle relays title against a talented field. This year Tennessee also contests the sprint medley relay, 4x800m relay, distance medley relay and 4xMile relay. Several Vols also report in non-relay events. Thursday night the distance Vols run the steeplechase, 5,000m run and 10,000m run. On Friday, Tennessee sends competitors to the line in the 100m dash and 110m hurdles. Vols are also entered in the 400m hurdles and triple jump Saturday.
"We only have a couple more tune ups before the SEC Championships," Webb said. "We also go to Louisville and back home for the Knoxville Invitational this weekend before heading to Ohio State for the Jesse Owens Invitational next week. We're going to be conservative with a couple of guys and hold Rocky Danners and Gary Kikaya out this weekend. They could go if it was SEC week, but they won't compete this week because we want them ready to go for SECs."
At the Cardinal Open Friday, Tennessee plans on entering athletes in the 100m dash, 400m dash, 1,500m run, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot put, discus and hammer. At least half the entrants are Tennessee decathletes brushing up training in different events.
Meanwhile, Sunday's Knoxville Invitational schedule holds an assortment of running and field events. The field events begin at 9:30 a.m. with the women's hammer. The first men's event, the long jump, arrives at 12:30 p.m. The first event on the track begins at 1:50 p.m. with the women's 100m dash. The men's 100m dash follows at 2 p.m. The last field event, the men's hammer, begins at 4:30 p.m. The last event on the track, a 1,200m run for decathletes, begins at 5 p.m.
Tennessee's roster for the Knoxville Invitational will be determined by the Vols' performances at the weekend's other two meets. However, javelin throwers Leigh Smith and Matt Dressler are slated for action at 3 p.m. Admission to the Knoxville Invitational is free.
TENNESSEE STANDS STRONG IN RANKINGS UPDATE
Tennessee remains in striking distance of the top spot in the weekly update of the Trackwire 25. This week the Vols tie for the third spot with USC courtesy of 46 projected NCAA Outdoor points, just four points off the leader. Last week the Vols stood second with 48 points in the Trackwire 25, available on www.trackwire.com.
This week, SEC rival Arkansas takes over the top spot in the rankings with 50 points. Meanwhile, last week's leader Auburn fell to second with 48 points. Mississippi State's 42 points and LSU's 35 points are good for fifth and sixth, respectively. South Carolina clocks in eighth with 30 points. Georgia caps the top 10 with 26 points. SEC schools hold seven of the top-10 spots.
Meanwhile, Tennessee holds on to its top spot with a narrow margin in the Team Power Rankings by the U.S. Track Coaches Association. The Vols' 354.61 points betters the Florida State Seminoles' total of 354.11 points.
There is no update this week for the Trackshark 25. Last week, the Vols held the top spot in that ranking.
