Kentucky track and field coach Don Weber has a picture of one of his former athletes displayed in his office.
Included below is a quotation from the hard-charging sprinter, Ernest Simms: "I love to compete. I don't worry about winning or losing. I just want to get better, and competing with good people will make me better."
That's the attitude Weber wants his Wildcats to take into the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships, which UK will host Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"This is a conference that will provide you with the really good competition that will get you better," Weber said. "I expect everybody to do well. Some of those doing well won't be as noticeable as others doing well. But it's important for them to realize that this be the meet that you're at your best."
UK has had plenty of individual champions over the years, but not so with SEC team titles. The Cats won their lone men's title in 1960 and haven't hit the top three since 1996. They placed sixth last year at Fayetteville, Ark.
The best finish by the UK women is a third in 1989. The Cats placed fifth last year, a meet won by LSU.
The Arkansas men will be seeking a fifth consecutive title, 12th in 13 years and 16th in 18 years. Tennessee won in 1996, Florida in 2004 — both in Nutter Field House.
This will be the fifth time that the SEC meet has come to town. Arkansas won here in 2001 and 2007, but this will be the Razorbacks' first SEC meet since the retirement of legendary coach John McDonnell.
Four women's teams have won the previous league meets in Nutter: LSU (1996), Arkansas (2001), Florida (2004) and Tennessee (2007).
Here are 10 people or events not to be missed this weekend:
10. Jason Richardson, South Carolina: His only 60-meter hurdles of the season, an NCAA-leading 7.58 seconds, came Jan. 17 at UK.
9. Katie Stripling, Arkansas: Defending champion in the pole vault, she ranks second in the NCAA at 14-31/4.
8. Torrin Lawrence, Georgia: A freshman, he ranks No. 1 in the NCAA at 200 (20.77) and No. 3 at 400 meters (46.18).
7. Sarah Bowman, Tennessee: The senior is going for three consecutive titles in three events: mile, 3,000 meters and distance medley relay anchor.
6. Trindon Holliday, LSU: A football crossover, he's a five-time All-American (one relay title) with bests of 6.54 for the 60 and 10.02 for the 100.
5. Christian Taylor, Florida: A UK High School Invitational winner last year, he is the top seed in the long jump (26-33/4) and leads off the top-seeded 4-by-400 relay.
4. Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas: Second in last year's NCAA 1,500 for Northern Iowa, this transfer has SEC bests in the mile (3:57.60) and 3,000 (7:50.86).
3. Chris Bucknam, Arkansas: Bucknam also moved from Northern Iowa, succeeding McDonnell as coach. He won 35 conference titles over 25 seasons at UNI.
2. Ashley Trimble, UK: Friday, she's in the heptathlon (hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, 800), seeded No. 1 with 3,989 points. Then she'll come back Saturday and Sunday in the long jump, hurdles and 4-by-400 relay.
1. Men's 4-by-400 relay: A stacked field should provide a fantastic finish. The SEC has three of the season's top five times — No. 2 Florida (3:07.78), No. 3 Georgia (3:07.96) and No. 5 UK (3:08.57). South Carolina, Arkansas and LSU rank 7-8-9.
