The deepest and most talented field in Kansas Relays history will take the track starting Thursday April 20 for the 79th annual track and field event at KU’s Memorial Stadium. Some 9,000 athletes applied for this year’s Relays, but that list was narrowed to just over 6,000 participants on Sunday April 16.

“Each event is filled with state, national, and international champions,” said director Tim Weaver of the meet, which features athletes from 641 schools, 17 states, and 24 nations.

Anyone leaving Memorial Stadium with a Kansas Relays medal will have accomplished something special this weekend. In both quantity and quality, this will be the greatest Relays on record.”

The highlight of the weekend is the return of the GOLDZONE, which will run from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday April 22 and features such high profile athletes like Maurice Greene, Justin Gatlin, Allyson Felix and Nick Hysong. In all some 100 major champions and 36 Olympians comprise this year’s GOLDZONE II field that will match-up champion vs. champion.