Should Montana have an all-class state track meet?

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Should Montana have an all-class state track meet?

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:35 pm

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles ... -track.txt

Is it time for an all-class state track meet?
By ED WEST
Of The Gazette Staff

We've had an all-class high school wrestling tournament at MetraPark since 1990 and it has been an unqualified success.

For the past two years, Montana State University in Bozeman has played host to an all-class volleyball tournament which seems to have worked out well.

Is it time to consider an all-class track meet?

For the past several years, the Montana High School Association has not awarded one of the two state track meets that it conducts. There is no problem placing the AA meet and whatever class (either B or C) that's paired with it in that particular year. But it hasn't been as easy to find a site for the A-B or A-C meet.

For example, the AA-B meet is set for 2007 at Butte and the AA-C event in 2008 has been awarded to Helena. But the MHSA board doesn't have sites for the other two meets.

MHSA executive director Mark Beckman said Bigfork High School is working on a plan to have next year's A-C meet at Kalispell, but "we haven't seen a bid yet."

There has been some discussion of an all-class meet. Beckman said that Joanne Austin of the MHSA has developed a time schedule and that Butte actually presented a bid, but the board decided not to award it.

"Butte did bid for an all-class meet in 2007-08, but the board wanted additional information," Beckman said.

There are concerns about facilities and other issues. An all-class meet would have to last three days instead of two days for the current meets. There also could be problems with seating for athletes, coaches and fans.

"That many athletes might fill up the fan section," Beckman said. "You also have to have two pole vault pits. Butte did call us about that and has two pits. You have to have two pits so you don't get behind (time-wise)."

The pole vault, of course, can be a problem because of safety issues arising from bad weather. At both state meets this year, the event had to be moved indoors because of rain. At Butte, the Class A boys competition was delayed and didn't finish until about 10 p.m. Saturday night.

Since girls track became and MHSA-sanctioned activity, there have been two all-class meets, in 1977 at Billings and 1978 at Missoula.

One advantage would be the opportunity to watch all of the athletes perform. If there had been an all-class meet this year, you would have been able to see Bigfork's Brooke Andrus win a second straight distance triple and Big Sandy's Kourtney Danreuther claim four victories.

"I think in perception it would be a great thing," said School District 2 AD Dave Williams. "In reality, I don't know if you could provide for all the amenities for the teams. It would be pretty difficult."

Williams also wonders how many places would have the accommodations and restaurants available to handle such a large number of athletes, coaches and fans.

Billings, of course, would be one except it is in no position to even attempt to bid because the MetraPark track is decaying.

"Our track isn't in good enough condition (for a state meet)," Williams said. "There is nothing in the budget to repair it."

Even if the track wasn't a problem, Williams said other issues would have to be resolved.

"We'd have to have another pole vault pit and an additional shot put pit."

Staging a state meet also requires a large number of volunteers who are willing to give up a Memorial Day weekend. A three-day meet would also mean that schools would have an extra day of lodging expenses which, with all already tight activities budgets, could be an issue.

For next year, at least, it appears the A-C meet will have a site.

Thom Peck, activities director at Bigfork, is spearheading the efforts to bring the meet to Kalispell.

"We'll probably put in a bid," Peck said. "What would probably happen is it would be hosted by the Northwest A. It could be tough on the Class C schools because they will really have to travel."

Peck said volunteers and workers would be recruited from Kalispell, Whitefish, Polson, Columbia Falls and Bigfork.

In Peck's opinion an all-class meet, "would be great for the fans. It's been good for wrestling. If we went to an all-class meet only a handful of cities, if that, could do it."

Even if Peck's group is successful the question becomes, would they want to do a meet every year or every other year? Are there are other such areas that could possibly handle a state meet?

The AA will always have a place because all of the cities that bid have at least one or two AA schools. But what's going to happen, if some year, no one wants or can be persuaded to take the other meet?

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