The freshly cut grass will sparkle each morning this week as the heat from the newly found summer weather creeps to UT’s Tom Black Track.
The Sea Ray Relays are here.
At 3:30 p.m. today, the Scott Hartman Decathlon gets underway to kick off the 35th annual Sea Ray Relays and at 4 p.m. the Heptathlon begins.
Events scheduled to run today are the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m for the decathlon.
In the heptathlon, the 110m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m dash.
Thursday is another light day of competition, with the continuation of the decathlon and heptathlon starting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday also includes men’s and women’s invitational distance events as action concludes with the women’s 10,000m run at 8:50 p.m.
Friday and Saturday is when the competition level rises a bit with the field events and sprints highlighting the day.
In the pole vault, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Lawrence Johnson will be shooting for an American Record.
The former Vol currently holds the American indoor record and attempted the outdoor record at last week’s Gatorade Classic with an attempt at 19-9 3/4. Last week, Johnson cleared 19-4 1/4, the same height that gave him the silver medal in the 2000 Sydney
games.
As for the sprint corps, I think you know who to watch (Ahem, Leonard Scott?).
The Sea Ray Relays might be the biggest single event to hit the UT campus, and rightfully so. It might also be the best event for students and the public to enjoy a weekend of sports for several reasons:
The opportunity to see American track records fall.
The opportunity to see Tennessee athletes, current and former, compete with the best in the world.
A chance to clap along with the chanting fans watching the pole vault probably the best part of the meet.
There’s a lot of fast people; if Scott and his wind-resistence sunglasses are running downwind, good luck following him with your eyes.
If you’re not going home for Easter, it’s a good way to spend your time.
The meet is free to everyone.
It’s the best chance for a sun tan.
The opportunity to wear those new sunglasses to shade the glow of the new orange Adidas sign on the scoreboard.
For you guys, check out the Ball State women’s team … whew!
For you girls … I guess you could, uh, check out the guys looking for the Ball State team.
The bottom line is check out the Sea Rays this week. It’s a great way to spend the weekend outdoors while also catching a glimpse of some of the best athletes in the nation.
