KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ?The University of Kentucky track and field squads continue the 2005 outdoor season at the 33rd Gatorade Classic in Knoxville, Tenn., April 8-9. The meet will be a conference scoring clash between three SEC and three Big Ten schools. UK will be joined by South Carolina and Tennessee, while the Big Ten will be represented by Minnesota, Wisconsin and Penn State.

The meet will only be scored Big Ten schools vs. SEC schools. No team scoring will be tallied. Men?s and women?s scoring will be separate.

The events kick off Friday with the women?s hammer throw at 5:30 p.m. EST followed by the men?s hammer throw and women?s javelin. Saturday?s festivities begin with the women?s 3,000 meter steeple chase and will conclude with the men?s 4×400-meter relay scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. EST.

The Cats are coming off of a strong showing in harsh conditions at the Yellow Jacket Invitational last weekend in Atlanta, Ga. Seniors Brooke Patterson and Allison Grace both took home top honors in the 800 meters and 1,500 meters, respectively. Patterson finished with a season-best regional qualifying time of 2:09.45, while Grace crossed the finish line with a time of 4:35.32.

UK senior Jeff Chakouian continued his collegiate success with a second-place regional qualifying toss of 64-06 ? in the shot put. That toss is his second regional qualifying mark in as many meets. Junior Dedrick Tillerson also recorded a regional qualifying mark by running a personal-best time of 52.51 in the men?s 400-meter hurdles.