Track & Field Set to Host Alabama Relays
3/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
March 22, 2012
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The University of Alabama track and field team hosts its annual Alabama Relays this weekend, March 23-24, at the Sam Bailey Track & Field Stadium as the team welcomes 14 other teams to Tuscaloosa.
The two-day event gets underway on Friday at 11 a.m. with the women's hammer throw. Field events continue throughout the afternoon as competition begins on the track at 5 p.m. with the 4x200-meter relays. The men's javelin starts competition on Saturday at noon followed by the rest of the field events. Track events begin on Saturday at 6 p.m. with the 4x100-meter relays and continue until 9:20 p.m. under the Crimson Tide's new artificial lights at the facility.
Teams joining the Tide this weekend include programs such as Auburn, Cincinnati, Louisville, Samford, Southern Mississippi, UAB and Xavier.
The prospect of competing on campus for the first time this season is one that excites UA head coach Dan Waters and his team.
"You always compete better at home because of the familiarity with the facility and having your friends and family in the stands," Waters said. "As we move the program forward toward becoming an elite SEC program, I think this is one of the important first steps - having a great home competition that builds interest in track and field not only in the city of Tuscaloosa but across the state. We want to make sure the athletes and fans come and enjoy a great competition."
Adding to the atmosphere on Saturday will be the Taste of Tuscaloosa from 5-7 p.m. The event, coordinated by Men Who Cook, will feature nearly 20 teams preparing food for fans to sample and taste. Admittance to the Taste of Tuscaloosa comes with the $10 ticket for the Alabama Relays.
On the track, the Tide continues its outdoor season after recording seven first-place finishes in the season opener last weekend at the USF Bulls Invitational.
"We're trying to get better each and every week," Waters said. "We built a little momentum coming off the South Florida meet and obviously want to continue with that and continue to gain fitness and strength as we follow our process of getting better and competing."
Following this weekend's competition, the Tide will return to action on March 31 at the Ole Miss Invitational in Oxford, Miss.
