The 2005 Kansas Relays for the first time will include the Gold Zone, a grouping of the most popular races and field events. One hundred elite athletes will compete during the events from 2-5 p.m. April 23 at Memorial Stadium, including seven Olympic champions, three Olympic silver medalists, 24 additional Olympians, nine World Champions, six United States champions, 19 NCAA champions and 32 other major championship winners.

This group of athletes includes Maurice Greene, Stacy Dragila, Marion Jones, Allen Johnson, Jearl Miles-Clark, Nick Hysong, and former KU athletes Charlie Gruber and Scott Russell. Events to take place during the Gold Zone include the finals of all dashes, the 4x100 and 4x400 relay finals, the invitational high jumps and pole vaults, the women's steeplechase and the men's mile run.