I'll be there coaching for Monroe County.

This will be the first one I've missed in six years. Other things have cropped up that will keep me from attending one of my favorite high school sporting events in the state.

I will be there around the throwing events.

Yep, will at least watch the AA meet, or as it is often called, "The Paducah-Tilghman and everyone else meet".

I will be there for AA hanging out around the Pole Vault.

I'm be there to see the A meet in the morning.

I'll be there to watch the A meet Friday and Saturday.

Will be there to cheer on my team at the A meet on Friday and Saturday.

Yep, will at least watch the AA meet, or as it is often called, "The Paducah-Tilghman and everyone else meet".

You are so right about Paducah-Tilghman, What a track program and athletes (girls and boys). Do you know how many state titles they have in track and field? I know that it would have to be quite a few.They are great to watch. I will be paying more attention to the "A" meet. Favorite events are the 110 hurdle, 100 and 200 dash, high jump and pole vault. Imo h.s. track athletes and programs need to get more recognition but probably never will due to the $$$$ factor. That is a shame bc those kids work their tails off.

Can't make it unfortunately. Good luck to the Bluebirds who qualified.

I will be there for the AA event around throwing area

Pretty sure I'll be there shooting.

You are so right about Paducah-Tilghman, What a track program and athletes (girls and boys). Do you know how many state titles they have in track and field? I know that it would have to be quite a few.They are great to watch. I will be paying more attention to the "A" meet. Favorite events are the 110 hurdle, 100 and 200 dash, high jump and pole vault. Imo h.s. track athletes and programs need to get more recognition but probably never will due to the $$$$ factor. That is a shame bc those kids work their tails off.

 

Part of the reason for the lack of recognition is that most schools are out by the time region and the state track meet are held. Same thing with the tennis teams.

You are so right about Paducah-Tilghman, What a track program and athletes (girls and boys). Do you know how many state titles they have in track and field? I know that it would have to be quite a few.They are great to watch. I will be paying more attention to the "A" meet. Favorite events are the 110 hurdle, 100 and 200 dash, high jump and pole vault. Imo h.s. track athletes and programs need to get more recognition but probably never will due to the $$$$ factor. That is a shame bc those kids work their tails off.

 

Lots of factors are involved in the lack of recognition for track and field.

 

First and foremost is the lack of television coverage. I did see the Prefontaine meet on ESPN 2 this past weekend, but that was a rare occurrence. Try to find the world track and field championships on TV when they take place - good luck. Meanwhile, you can watch POKER on ESPN 2 nearly every day.

 

Next (at least in my neck of the woods) is the lack of local media coverage. There was a blurb in the Maysville paper yesterday about local kids (Mason County, Fleming County and Lewis County) that will be participating in the state meet. No real research at all, the article was grossly inaccurate. No coverage of the recently held regional meet, where the Mason County boys set a school record in the 4X100, Ron Duncan dominated the distance events, etc. etc. Meanwhile, the local softball and baseball teams, who scored a grand total of zero runs combined, get major coverage.

 

Track (and its fall counterpart, cross country) are not revenue-producing sports, by and large. The Kentucky state championships are held at a deteriorating facility (although this year they will be held at a high school - try staging the Sweet 16 or the Football championship games at a high school gym or stadium and see what the response will be). The University of Louisville is practically begging to host the high school state meets, but for some reason no one will take them up on the offer.

 

And it's not like track is going up against football or basketball in its quest for athletes. My dad coached football, wrestling and track "back in the day", and it was pretty much a requirement that a good many of his football players and wrestlers participated in track in the spring. Track competes with baseball and tennis for athletes, so there should be an abundant supply. However, many schools struggle to get kids to participate.

 

There is a general lack of understanding on the part of the general public as to how track meets run, how they are scored, etc. Many folks think that they take too long to complete, and that they don't want to sit for hours "watching kids run around in circles".

 

Finally, there's the notion that elite track stars are steroid-enhanced primadonnas who scratch their event every time they have a hangnail, and that's a tough image to counteract.

 

Sorry for the thread hijack; mabe we could start a new thread on the state of track and field.

Good luck to everyone participating tomorrow and Saturday at Dunbar!