(UPDATE: The meet was called off due to bad weather. It has not been rescheduled at this time)
Far different from most competitions, UT’s first priority in its season opener isn’t winning.
Instead, it’s all about the qualifying times.
After only two runners made nationals last year, the UT track team hopes to get qualifying times early and often this season, which starts Friday at the University of South Florida.
Runners need certain qualifying times to clinch invitations to other meets.
Last year, Paige Williams and Laura Woznicki were the only runners from either the men’s or women’s teams to qualify for nationals.
For all the runners, Friday’s 3 p.m. meet is a great opportunity for everyone on the team to earn themselves a spot in the post season meets.
The UT runners begin their races at 5 p.m., and both the men and women will compete in the 3,000-yard, 1,500-yard and 800-yard races.