Killing Track & Field

[NMTraxter]

Here in New Mexico and perhaps in the state where you live, high school track meets have turned into 8 AM to 12 midnight marathons. Consequently spectators, parents and even the competing athletes are becoming fed up with going to a track meet.

My suggestions to improve Track and Field is to not have the multi school huge relays events and to stress more dual or triangular meets, set a very tight timed schedule and STICK TO IT!

Any comments or suggestions by you would be welcome.

[DrJay]

Re: Killing Track & Field

I don't know if they still do it, but in the early 1980s Kentucky began staging AAA, AA, and A boys and girls state track meets at the same location (UK) on the same hot Saturday in late May. Six meets. Girls A high hurdles, boys A high hurdles, girls AA high hurdles, boys AA high hurdles....You get the picture. It went on forever. The only advantage was for kids running multiple events. The AAA boys mile runnerup had about six hours rest before he won the two mile. The advantage for me and some friends who did not qualify was that there was a lot more time to sneak out to the parking lot and quaff some ale ( potential new thread, "Effect of alcohol consumption on distance running spectating".) My friend HN, who should have qualified for the two mile had he not peaked a few weeks early, was rather disinhibited by the time the two mile rolled around and made quite a spectacle of himself watching the race.

[tafnut]

Re: Killing Track & Field

We got so disgusted, we went to a mini-meet format. We have 100, 400, 1600, 100/110H, HJ, LJ, SP, 4x400, and then the next week do the other events. That's early season. We getting away from the Big Invitationals for the very reason you cite.

Duals aren't feasible because not many schools around here can field 2 or 3 athletes in every event. Tri's work.

[Halfmiler]

Re: Killing Track & Field

The obvious answer is to compartmentalize the time schedule. Instead of having three groups stay for 12 hours, give each group a four hour timeslot at the site. That way, parents and spectators who are only interested in one group do not have to stay the whole day.

[black bear]

Re: Killing Track & Field

We tend to run a quad or pent meet format once a week with only one really big relay meet to deal with. But then again this Maine and we just don't have very many big schools and the meets tend to finish in about 31/2 to 4 hours. That is just fine with us because early season meets on a Friday afternoon that begin in a beautiful 60-70 degrees will wind up somewhere in the lower 40's by the time we are heading out. Blah!

[det]

Re: Killing Track & Field

tafnut, I hope you give the throwers six throws?

[tafnut]

Re: Killing Track & Field

>tafnut, I hope you give the throwers six throws?

. . . um, . . . 4 jumps, 4 throws, but we do have an extended warm up time so the coaches can work together with the athletes in a competition situation. We encourage coaching on the spot in early meets - there's way too many 'big' meets that forbid the coaches from being at the venue - this is High School!

[det]

Re: Killing Track & Field

Tafnut, I guess that would work, I just would hate to have kids go on a school bus ride for 3 throws in one event. In your case (like alot of small schools) you may have throwers who double in other events (the good ole 3200/discus double).

Bring back the weight team 4x100!

[tafnut]

Re: Killing Track & Field

>>Bring back the weight team 4x100!

It's not gone! We run every year. Minimum throws: 35'-SP, 120'-DT. They run around the same time as the girls.

[Norm Balke]

Re: Killing Track & Field

I must "weigh in" on the issue of throwers 4x100.

The throwers have more spectators for this circus event than the events that they train hard for.

Comments heard at meets,"Looky them big ol' hosses go!" "It's good for them (said condescendingly)."

This event is usuallly acccompanied laughter and derisive hoots from the crowd.

If you think about it, throwers often have more actual time on the stage compared to a sprinter. A throwers get 1:30 in the ring for each throw, vs. a 100,200, 4x1 guy has get int he blocks, run for 11, 23, and 11 seconds (I'm thinking a HS guy). 270 sec for 3 throws v. 55 sec. for a sprinter.

Back to work!

nb

[dl]

Re: Killing Track & Field

I don't think the "marathon track meet" problem is unique to high schools. College invitationals have become endless and have unfortunately almost entirely replaced the more fan-friendly dual/tri/quad, where a moderate fan could see good head-to-head action fr 2-3 hours and come away knowing who the winner(s) and loser(s) are.

[Helen S]

Re: Killing Track & Field

Comments heard at meets,"Looky them big ol' hosses go!"

Back in the day, my dad competed in regularly in the 100m and shot put. He also was the center jumper (after each basket) measuring only 6 feet 1 inch. Strong, with lots of fast twitch.

[DrJay]

Re: Killing Track & Field

At the end of an ITA meet (a failed attempt at professional track in the 1973-75 time frame for the youngsters out there) Brian Oldfield (75 ft shot in an ITA meet, therefore not eligible for IAAF ratification) raced one of the female sprinters. I don't recall if he beat her, I suspect it was over 100y, though maybe 50y. Maybe someone else remembers the outcome. He was a bit of a showman, picked up the tiny (by comparison) gal afterward and looked like he could have tossed her 75 ft. if he had tried.

[gh]

Re: Killing Track & Field

30y, and I think he always won.

[marknhj]

Re: Killing Track & Field

... with
>lots of fast twitch.

>>>

So he's for stem cell research then?