By Phil Grove
On February 11, some of the region’s top high school track and field athletes will get the red carpet treatment at SPIRE Institute’s one-of-a-kind indoor track and field facility in Geneva, Ohio. This “showcase” meet will be something new for the best in Ohio, Pennsylvania, the Midwest and parts of Canada, says the facility’s new track and field director.
"What goes on for the top kids in the Midwest?" lamented Charlie Powell, former longtime University of Pennsylvania men’s coach. "Where are the showcase meets for these high school kids?”
Powell noted that top-level performers along the East Coast are often spotlighted at meets in Landover, Md., the Armory in New York City and the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Meanwhile, the left coast scurries to the University of Washington and the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho.
Looking to attract “state championship quality athletes only,” the inaugural event in Geneva will be limited to the top 20 to 24 entries in each event with a target of two or three heats in the running events. Powell noted that the large number of competitors at some indoor meets is a problem in several ways.
“At some facilities, the only place for kids to sit is on the infield, and that’s dangerous or a distraction,” he said. “Most have seating for 500 or 1,000, and some meets have more athletes than there are seats.”
The prep meet at SPIRE Institute will immediately follow a two-day Division I invitational on the facility’s 300-meter oval with dual competition areas for field events. Scheduled to compete are Florida State, Ohio State, East Carolina, George Mason, Georgetown, Indiana, Michigan State, Syracuse, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Pitt, Texas and Virginia Tech among others.
The showcase meet will feature a pared-down schedule, with the 60 dash and hurdles, 400 dash, and 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs. The lone relay will be the distance medley, while the field events will include the high jump, long jump, pole vault and shot put.
As for the high school meet, "we're going to have just the top kids," Powell proclaimed, noting organizers are hopeful that Ohio vaulter Jacob Blankenship and other top-level athletes who have expressed interest to compete at SPIRE. "I hope the coaches that are telling me this (is needed) will send their top kids. I hope they will support it like they say they will."
Powell said track loses some of its top athletes in the winter to lesser roles in basketball because that sport gets the most recognition of the season.
“Because there’s no place to be recognized,” he said. “They are not getting the notoriety, and they play basketball as an afterthought.”
Many times, the top performers have to fight it out in “cattle-call meets where they are one of 100 kids running the mile or one of 80 kids vaulting.” Powell said these athletes might miss out on scholarship opportunities because they do not have the chance to showcase their best efforts until the outdoor season begins, with much of the scholarship money already spoken for by athletes on the coasts or in the warm weather states.
“If we can get them to send their top kids here to one of the finest facilities in the country, have them go head to head and turn them loose, if we can do that, we will have a tremendous atmosphere with great spectator atmosphere,” Powell said.
Entries will be accepted via Milesplit until 11:59 p.m. February 7. For more information, contact Powell at 440-466-1002, ext. 115, or cpowell@spireinstitute.org.