March 26, 2009

Local track meet open to all 9- to 14-year-olds in San Jose

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Every year since 1985, the city holds a track meet for 9- to 14-year-olds. The winners go to a northern California meet, and those top qualifiers head to Pennsylvania for the Hershey State Meet.

Participants from Team San Jose pose at last year’s track meet.

This year’s meet will be held May 9 at Leland High School. There is no charge to participate and no uniforms or track shoes are required. The top three qualifiers from each event will go on to the June 20 Northern California meet at Oak Grove High School. Those top three qualifiers will then participate against young people from Hawaii, Nevada, southern California, Arizona, Utah and other areas of Northern California and Region 2 winners are off to Pennsylvania. All those attending the Region 2 meet will receive a T-shirt.

Last year, 25 of the 34 California athletes were from the San Jose area. And California sent the largest number, with Texas close behind at 33 athletes. Besides running track events, doing a standing long jump and a softball throw, those making it to Hershey, Pa. get to have fun touring Hershey World, visiting the local Hershey Amusement Park and meeting former Olympic track stars such as Carl Wilson, Bruce Jenner and Rafer Johnson. There is also lots of chocolate to go around.

There are different races based on ages, but all athletes do a 4x1 relay, the standing long jump and the softball throw. Children born in 1995-96 also participate in the 100-, 200-, 800- and 1600-meter races. Children born in 1997-98 compete in 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter races. And, children born in 1999-2000 participate in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter races.

The San Jose meet is totally run by volunteers. This year, Bret Harte’s leadership group, about 20 students, will serve as escort runners, softball spotters and shaggers and help take care of statistics, results and awards. Other volunteers include starting officials.

To register, call the office at (408) 871-3825 or e-mail Judi Baxter at judibax@sonic.net or Steve Ryan at steve.ryan@sanjoseca.gov. Pre-registration will be accepted through May 6 or you can register at the meet.