LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky track and field squads open the season as hosts of the annual Kentucky Invitational this Friday and Saturday in Nutter Field House. The two-day event starts Friday at 6 p.m. and continues at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

The Wildcats are joined by Alabama, Arkansas State, Auburn, Clemson, East Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Marshall, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Military Institute and Western Kentucky. Eleven teams, including Kentucky will be bringing their men?s and women?s squad to compete.

Last season at the Kentucky Invitational, UK garnered several top honors. Brooke Patterson ran away with second in the mile for the Cats, while Jeff Chakouian wowed the crowd with a toss of 63-10.9 in the shot put to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championships. Then junior Gennessa Guzman smashed the previous 20 lb. weight throw school record with a toss of 60-11.25 and led her team to a third-place finish. Both the men?s and women?s 4 x 800-meter relay teams also faired well, taking home first place medals.

-UK-