Time Changes

[Rex Hall]

While we're discussing changes on other threads, here is one we continually discuss at our Coaches meetings. Why are we starting important track meets ie; Finals,State in the middle of the day. If anyone watched the 3200 finals last week they saw some real suffering out there. I'm not suggesting that the Athletes can't take it, it just seems that it would have been pretty easy to start the meet at about 4:00 and eliminate most of the heat problems. (Yes it was still hot at 4:00) I know that some of the special events ( Pole Vault) take a lot longer to run, but for the kids on the track this seems unnecessary. Last year at State one of our girls got so overheated in a distance event that she was unable to recover for several hours. If our goal is to have the Athletes do their very best at the end of the year this would seem like a small concession. I am aware that travel becomes an issue, but seems a small price to pay for saftey and quality. Just my thoughts.

[coach96]

Amen

[dyestatcal]

Travel distances and possible expenditures for over-night stays usually given as the reasons for the timing of competitions such as SS and State.
Ask people from Arroyo Grande or Morro Bay when they get home from the Divisional Finals and other meets down south as it is, and if teams in the half of the State Meet wish to get home that date saves schools a ton of money--Principals always emphasize this in their meetings at section level.
Certainly not indicating desire to put kids in anything other than optimum conditions myself, but having sat in on a lot of committees through the decades that's usually the reason given
Doug Speck

[ArcadiaInvite]

Also, keep in mind that we already have enough kids cutting it close on prom night because of their commitments to their track team. Hey, let's also respect their right to being a teen, and their right to attend such functions.

From logistical standpoints in relation to scheduling, costs, travel itineraries, prom conflicts, etc., you run into many problems when you push it further into the evening.

[Paolo Wagner]

I think the majority of kids and coaches who had to be in that heat the last two Saturdays wish the meets started later. And while I do understand the prom thing, if I'm not mistaken, SS finals for Baseball is always the same day as state finals for track, and starts at 7:30. I told my kids last year, if you can get on the prom comittee, try to schedule it for the Saturday after Masters or the Saturday the week after State, neither of those happened, it is on June 4th.

That being said, the cost is a big deal at our school. I couldn't imagine the meets starting at 4pm and a kid like Michael Coe having to choose between getting home at 1-2am or getting hotels for 3 - 4 weeks in a row on the road to state.

[logupton]

I have a question along the same catagory.I emailed the state meet organizers a few years ago to ask them why they dont hold the state meet in Bakersfield at Bakersfield Colleges "Memorial Stadium".They've had it there twice in the past that I know of (Late 70's and I think early to mid 80's)Its A very nice facility with a nice track and holds 10 to 12,000 fans.The best thing about it is that its right in the middle of Calif which means a lot less travel time and miles for a lot of people.Sacramento and Cerritos both are nice places also but they're both almost on opposite ends of the state which makes it a very long trip for some depending on where you're coming from.The reason they gave was that lane #9 is hard to see from the stands because of the brick wall that goes around the track at the bottom.Cerritos is not too much different if I remeber correctly.Also,the shotput is out on the field where everyone can see the action.You cant even see the shot at Sac and Cerritos is up against the wall in the corner where you can only see if you're sitting on the finish line side.I think Bakersfield is a prime location.May get a little HOT but you dont have those Sacramento WINDS that sneak up on you when you're wearing shorts :D Someone else PLEASE let me know what you think.

[ArcadiaInvite]

I have a question along the same catagory.I emailed the state meet organizers a few years ago to ask them why they dont hold the state meet in Bakersfield at Bakersfield Colleges "Memorial Stadium".They've had it there twice in the past that I know of (Late 70's and I think early to mid 80's)Its A very nice facility with a nice track and holds 10 to 12,000 fans.The best thing about it is that its right in the middle of Calif which means a lot less travel time and miles for a lot of people.Sacramento and Cerritos both are nice places also but they're both almost on opposite ends of the state which makes it a very long trip for some depending on where you're coming from.The reason they gave was that lane #9 is hard to see from the stands because of the brick wall that goes around the track at the bottom.Cerritos is not too much different if I remeber correctly.Also,the shotput is out on the field where everyone can see the action.You cant even see the shot at Sac and Cerritos is up against the wall in the corner where you can only see if you're sitting on the finish line side.I think Bakersfield is a prime location.May get a little HOT but you dont have those Sacramento WINDS that sneak up on you when you're wearing shorts :D Someone else PLEASE let me know what you think.

Since you are asknig for opinions, I did attend a meet there about three years ago. It was an okay facility, but the things I remember most were the high wall outside of Lane 9, the heat, and the open-air press box (I guess they didn't want to open the permanent one, assuming they had one).

When the three things that are remembered most are all minuses, that's not a good sign.

[Hal Harkness]

The reason for leaving Bakersfield in the early '80's was lack of local Meet Management. Carl Berra, the Commissioner of the Central Section, led a local group that ran the meet and when he retired it fell apart.

The weather in Bakersfield in late May-June is just as unpredictable as Sacramento, from very hot to strong, cold winds.

[xcrnr]

Buchanan stadium in Clovis would be a great site.

It has 12,000 stadium seats and grass birms(sp) on the north and south ends that can accomodate 3,000 or more.

There is a great soccer complex 1 mile in circumference for warm-ups and has adequate parking because 3 schools are on the same complex.

It is in the middle of the state.

It will be getting a new track next year (we're shooting for Mondo).

Marty Simpson and Brian Weaver have experience hosting state meets.

Nice location. No scarry neighborhoods to run around in.

Warm? Yes. But the large trees and park like setting of the campus allows one to cool off nicely.

Great press box.

As for the heat, the avg. temperature for Clovis that date is 86 degrees. How hot was it in Cerritos last Weekend?

[Pre 12:36.0]

Did I hear right that it might be at Mt. Sac?

[yesstiles]

How about we return to Mitchell Field in Oroville, site of the oustanding 1972 State Meet? ;) :p
Actually many of California's most outstanding races ever have taken place at Memorial Stadium in Bakersfield. I think it's an awesome stadium. Hard to believe such a huge stadium and the site of World Records exists so far out in the middle of nowhere.

[Rich Ede]

Back in the day...the state meet rotated among San Diego(Balboa Stadium, no longer standing), SS (Usually Cerritos), LA (UCLA or Coliseum), Bakersfield (Memorial Stadium), Berkeley, and Sacramento. By the time it rotated through 6 sites, the folks had forgotten how to put on a big meet (if they hadn't retired or died). Meet after meet was a disaster in terms of meet conduct. The problems could fill pages. Thus was born the 2-site rotation north and south. Both sets of managers coordinate with each other and there's a lot of continuity. Sites can be argued, but the management team(s) now in place and the continuity/cooperation/coordination of the alternating sites make the whole experience better for everyone. Now if the Bee would only actually COVER the meet, maybe there'd be people in the stands at Hughes.

[ArcadiaInvite]

Did I hear right that it might be at Mt. Sac?

What you heard was a rumor. I checked into it twice in the last five weeks, and was clearly told that it was only rumor.

What I have heard, is that due to a myriad of circumstances, it likely will not be at Cerritos anymore.

[ArcadiaInvite]

Back in the day...the state meet rotated among San Diego(Balboa Stadium, no longer standing), SS (Usually Cerritos), LA (UCLA or Coliseum), Bakersfield (Memorial Stadium), Berkeley, and Sacramento. By the time it rotated through 6 sites, the folks had forgotten how to put on a big meet (if they hadn't retired or died). Meet after meet was a disaster in terms of meet conduct. The problems could fill pages. Thus was born the 2-site rotation north and south. Both sets of managers coordinate with each other and there's a lot of continuity. Sites can be argued, but the management team(s) now in place and the continuity/cooperation/coordination of the alternating sites make the whole experience better for everyone. Now if the Bee would only actually COVER the meet, maybe there'd be people in the stands at Hughes.

The Bee doesn't cover the meet well?

I'm too busy on meet weekend to have the chance to read the local paper, but the paper has enough people in the press box that I assumed they did a great job.

Rich

[Rich Ede]

Last year, the first day of the meet, the only Bee coverage was a feature about one local male athlete. Buried deep on the second page wa a mention that he was participating in the state meet that happened to be starting that day. At lunch on Saturday, I was sitting in a restaurant listening to several people talk about track and how much they were looking forward to the trials. When they found out I was there for the meet they were surprised to hear it was happening.

[logupton]

To Arcadia-You have some good points.I've been to lots of meets there since I live here and they always use that open pressbox for some reason.I think its so that the messengers can easily run the results over to be read.Its always the same guy (which talks entirely too much)and acts like he owns the place.Im sure though that they would use the main one if they were holding the state meet there.Sorry....cant do nothing about the heat :eek:
To Hal-Didnt know about the Carl Berra situation,but if you've ever felt some strong cold winds here in late May/June,I sure would like to know when that happened :confused: Its HOT here already.
To XCRNR-I've yet to see Buchanans stadium but it sounds like a pretty nice facility.Fresno would be a nice location.Only Hr 1/2 from here and is also considered in the central of Ca.Maybe we'll get lucky someday.

[Rich Ede]

What you heard was a rumor. I checked into it twice in the last five weeks, and was clearly told that it was only rumor.

What I have heard, is that due to a myriad of circumstances, it likely will not be at Cerritos anymore.


I was informed today at Mt. SAC that CIF has reserved the dates of the State Meet on the Mt. SAC Calendar.

[Hal Harkness]

We have reserved dates at Mt. Sac for next June for the State Meet not knowing what, if anything will transpire at Cerritos College regarding the installation of an artificial surface infield and a new Mondo track surface. At this point there are not definite dates/contracts for work, but a sincere hope on the part of the college that it can all be completed by late winter/early spring.

We will see what happens and make decisions regarding a site accordingly.

[Rich Ede]

Hal

I would have expected you to have contingency plans.

Rich