By Andrew Powell ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston track and field teams will be in full stride Friday afternoon when they compete in the second annual Sikeston Twilight Relays.

Competition will arrive in bulk as Public Schools Stadium will play host to 14 different schools from around the area. Malden, Scott Central, Saxony, Caruthersville, Cape Central, Notre Dame, Chaffee, Hayti, Dexter, Poplar Bluff, Jackson, Kennett, Kelly and Sikeston will all be suiting up for this annual meet.

"It is an event that our kids have been really looking forward to competing in," said Sikeston head coach Jerry Dement. "There should be a lot of competition on both the boys and girls side so it should be a good meet for everybody."

As the trend for most of the season this year, the Bulldogs main strengths will mostly likely be in the speed relays, the jumps and the hurdle events.

"If the weather is conducive then I think we're gonna be ready to run," said Dement. "If we run to our potential then we'll do pretty darn good in every event.

"We also feel like we have a pretty strong shot in the hurdles and jumps as well," Dement added.

"But ultimately I guess we're just hoping to get the chance to line them up, cut loose and do the best we can."

Unlike a traditional track meet however, the Twilight Relays consist of a relay format in which no team points are award. Instead, each school will be represented in a certain event by three individuals. The top score from each individual will then be added to one another for their total in that event.

"We have three performances in each of the field events and they then add their best mark or distance up to come up with a winner," said Dement.

Along with the events of a regular meet, the Twilight Relays will also add few extra categories including the distance medley and hurdle relay as well as a relay for the shot and discus athletes. There will also be an invitational for the 100-meter dash and 1,600-meter run.

"We're gonna try to get the top 16 kids or so in the area in the 100-meter dash and the 1,600-meter run," said Dement. "Then we're gonna let them go and see who comes out on top in both the girls and boys divisions."

For Sikeston, seniors Brandon Washington and Tommie Strong will each have a strong chance to challenge for the title in the 100-meter dash for the guys while Michel'le Flye and Vonteria Applewhite will look to place on the girls side.

In the 1,600-meter run, the Bulldogs will look for mile man Matt Rushing to make some noise for the guys while youth found in freshmen Mary Eifert will have to carry the load for the ladies.

Dement implied that Notre Dame, Saxony, Cape Central and Poplar Bluff will probably be the favorites in the distance categories. But Sikeston, Malden, Kennett and Poplar Bluff looked to have the top go-getters in the sprint divisions.

"There is a lot of talent scattered throughout all the events so it should make things interesting," said Dement. "Either way I think it will be a good chance for everybody to get out there and enjoy some good competition."

The Twilight Relays is free to the public and will begin at 4 p.m.