Some of the nation’s top high school and college track and field athletes will converge on the James Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track this Friday and Saturday for the 65th Pepsi Florida Relays.
The first Florida Relays were held in 1939 and were created by Florida’s legendary track and field coach Percy Beard, who coached Florida from 1937-63, was a world record-holder and Olympian in the high hurdles and is enshrined in the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. Since then, the Florida Relays have grown from a regional meet to one of the nation’s top meets.
Since 2007, the meet has been held on a 9-lane, 400-meter track with a Mondo surface. Since 1959, James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track has been the home of the Gators, and the complex has permanent grandstand seating for 4,500 and additional room for bleacher seating. The complex will host the 2009 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 14-17.
One of the highlights of the meet will be the appearance and participation of Florida freshman running back Jeff Demps. Demps, who just missed qualifying for the U.S. Olympics team in the 100 meters, is scheduled to run the anchor of Florida’s 4x100m relay team along with Jeremy Hall, Calvin Smith and Terrell Wilks on Saturday.
Among the other Gators participating are two-time NCAA Indoor women’s shot put champion Mariam Kevkhishvili of Tbilisi, Georgia and freshman triple jumper Christian Taylor, who won the NCAA Indoor triple jump. See below for other Florida competitors.
State schools participating include Florida, Florida State, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International, Florida Southern, Embry-Riddle, Bethune-Cookman, Jacksonville, Miami, South Florida, Nova Southeastern, Tampa, UCF and Webber International.
Other SEC teams participating include Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Also fielding athletes will be Alabama State, Albany (N.Y.), Boston University, Cal State Fullerton, Catholic University, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Dayton, Delaware State, East Tennessee State, Fort Valley State, George Mason, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Illinois, Jackson State, Lincoln (Pa.), Maryland, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morehouse, Navy, Norfolk State, Northeastern, Savannah State, South Alabama, South Carolina State, St. Francis (N.Y.), Temple, Tulane, Villanova, Western Kentucky and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its preseason rankings for men’s and women’s teams. In the women’s preseason rankings, Florida is ranked No. 11. Tennessee is fourth, Miami 16th, South Carolina 17th and Arkansas 19th.
In the men’s preseason rankings, Florida is eighth. Arkansas is ranked second, Florida State fourth, Kentucky sixth, Tennessee ninth and South Carolina 14th.
Gates open at 9 a.m. with the first events at 10 a.m. on Friday. Saturday, gates open at 8 a.m. with first events at 9.