State Track and Cross-Country Advisory Committee Meeting

Hmmm, as you sat at the State Track Meet at Cerritos last June or drove back from the State Cross-Country meet in Fresno last November, did you have the thought, "Gee, I wish they-------" in reference to some way that these competitions were carried out for the athletes, coaches, and spectators involved. Now is the time for your input, with the next meeting of the State Track & Cross-Country Advisory Committee coming up soon. I know we have a couple of items we would like to suggest. I do not know if they are possible, but think they would add to the competitions. At Track we would like to see hip numbers on the front and back of the jersies of the field event competitors so that they might be identified by spectators. A plan to require some school identification on school uniforms is not possible, and this would be a way to identify athletes by numbers. Those running the State Track meet do not wish to use athlete numbes for the competition, and when someone is on the track if you can see their hip number in a distance race or figure out what lane they are in in a sprint you are okay. In field events if someone has an all-red uniform in the midst of 27 State prelim competitors and you are not from that athlete's area of the state where you have seen them before, good luck. Hip numbers placed front and back of the jersey would not interfere with reading of finish line photos if the athlete had to go to a running event, and would be a way for folks to id the athletes. As our sport struggles against other activities for fans' attention, this simple identification would help to draw the marginal fans closer to the action. Also, we would like a large clock at the 200 meter mark of the track, so "in-progress" times could be recorded in different events. It is done in larger International meets, and would "at a glance" give you the 200 meter time of athletes in the distance events and so on---We know you have many more suggestions and so that we may bring them up to the committee - please e-mail them to us. They can also pertain to Cross-Country

EMAIL SUGGESTIONS FOR STATE TRACK AND CROSS-COUNTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

Doug Speck

Dyestat Cal News

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