Hosting prominent national outdoor track and field meets at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium is nothing new for the University of Tennessee. The home of the annual Sea Ray Relays, the state-of-the-art facility has also been the site of several top meets at several different levels in competitive track and field.

Hosting the 1969 NCAA Championships, the 1982 TAC Championships, the 1993 AAU Junior Olympics, the 1994 USATF Championships, the 1994 USATF National Youth Athletics Championships and the 1995 NCAA Championships, Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium has seen competition among some of the sport's most elite athletes.

The University of Tennessee's athletic facilities are among the nation's elite. Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium underwent a facelift in 2003 to get ready for hosting the SEC outdoor championships. The track was resurfaced in winter 2003. A state-of-the-art Daktronics video board was added in spring 2003. The video board displays nearly immediate results and offers the ability to show quiality live video to match any track board in the nation.

There are 7,500 permanant seats and a press pavilion adjacent to the track. Because stands line both sides of the straightaways and all field events are contested within the oval, fans can watch all events from their seats anywhere in the stadium.

Tom Black Track has hosted the 1994 National USATF championships and the 1995 NCAA Championships. Most recently, the facility hosted the 2003 SEC outdoor championships, the best conference meet in the nation. Additionally, Tom Black Track serves as the host of the annual Sea Ray Relays.

Even a partial list of Tom Black Track recordholders tells you all you need to know about the caliber of competition it has hosted. John Carlos, Justin Gatlin, Marty Liquori, Todd Williams, Doug Brown, Lawrence Johnson, Michael Powell, Tom Pukstys, Willie Gault and Dan O'Brien lead the men's list while Jackie-Joyner Kersey, Evelyn Ashford, Merlene Ottey, Mary Decker-Todd, Amy Acuff and Connie Price-Smith are the leading women's recordholders.

The Home of the Vols and Lady Vols will undergo a facelift during the spring of 2006, as the exterior of the facility gets spruced up for the upcoming Sea Ray Relays and Mideast Regional Championships. The name of the facility that has honed the skills of SEC, NCAA, U.S., world and Olympic world champions will also get a facelift. In recognition of their generosity to Tennessee Athletics, the track stadium was named after the LaPorte family at a dedication held Nov. 25, 2005. The home of one of Tennessee's most successful programs will now be known as Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.

Capacity: 7,500 (permanent)

Completion Date: April 2, 1966 (first meet)

Description: Eight-lane, Olympic-style track with Rekortan running surface, including Daktronics, Inc., video board and Omega timing system. Dual sets of runways for jumping and pole vault events with throwing areas within the oval of the running track.

Restrooms: Restroom facilities are located on the west side of the track (near the warm-up area).

First Aid: Medical services are available throughout the meet. Contact a member of the meet management staff for immediate assistance.

Paging: Individuals will be paged in case of an emergency only. See meet management staff if you need any assistance.

Media: Media personnel should report to the press box area and ask for Nathan Kirkham or Eric Trainer for assistance.

Tom Black Championship Events: 1969 NCAA Championships, 1982 TAC Championships, 1993 AAU Junior Olympics, 1994 USATF Championships, 1994 USATF National Youth Athletics Championships, 1995 NCAA Championships and 2003 SEC Championships.