Aside from the SEC and NCAA championships, the UK track & field team will compete in arguably their most competitive meets of the season this weekend, the Penn Relays, and the SEC Relays.

Now in its 123rd year, the Penn Relays is the oldest and most recognized relay meet nationally. From April 27-29, the meet will host the best high school, college, and even Olympic athletes for a variety of races, including the prestigious relay races.

However, only the distance runners for UK will compete at the Penn Relays, as the rest of the team will compete at the SEC Relays instead. All of UK’s distance runners will compete on Thursday night, highlighted by Jacob Thomson and Katy Kunc in the 5,000 meter race. Thomson is fresh off being named the Male Athlete of the Year at the CATSBY Awards, and will compete at 9:25 p.m.

As for the rest of the team competing at the SEC Relays, the Cats will get one last look at their conference opponents before the SEC championships on May 10-13. The competition will be fierce as five of the top six men’s teams in the latest USTFCCCA rankings are in the SEC.

Seven of the top 10 teams in the women’s rankings are also in the SEC.

The relays won’t take place until Saturday, where the women’s team is expected to place high in the 4×100 meter, and 4×400 meter relays. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who won female Rookie of the Year at the CATSBY Awards, will run for both relay teams, as well as the 200 meter dash.

This will be a good chance for the Cats to face top-notch competition before the postseason begins. After this weekend, the Cats will return to Lexington to host the Kentucky Relays on May 5. That will be the Cats’ final meet before the SEC and NCAA championships.