More
than 6,000 youngsters expected for 2001 Junior Olympics
Sacramento’s
commitment to track and field continues this summer
when the capital plays host to the 2001 Junior Olympic
National Track & Field Championships. The Junior
Olympics will be held July 24-29 at the A.G. Spanos
Sports Complex on the California State University,
Sacramento campus. CSUS was the site of the 2000 U.S.
Olympic Track and Field Trials and will be the venue
for the 2003 NCAA Division I Track Championships.
The
Sacramento Sports Commission formed a partnership
with the Pacific Association of USA Track & Field
to organize and run the Junior Olympics. The Junior
Olympics annually feature 6,500 athletes from age
8 to 18, making it the biggest youth sporting event
in the world in terms of number of participants.
“The
lure of this event is obviously the 6,500 kids plus
coaches and parents who will be participating,”
said John Mansoor, executive director of the Pacific
Association. “The economic impact has been estimated
at $3 to $4 million. From our organization’s
perspective, we’re giving our kids an opportunity
to compete in the nationals without having to travel
all the way across the country.”
Kim
Haines, former chairman of the USA Track & Field’s
youth committee, said: “This is the prime event
for youth track and field in the United States. We
look forward to coming to Sacramento. They have an
excellent facility and a great local organizing committee.”
The
Junior Olympics are a massive undertaking from an
organizational standpoint, but Sacramento benefits
greatly from having a new 400-meter warm-up track
adjacent to the competition track in Hornet Stadium.
This will allow some field events to be held simultaneously
on both tracks.
“Our
meets are like a three-ring circus,” Haines said.
“There’s something going on all the time.
For example, we’ll be running as many as 50 heats
in the 100-meter dashes.”
The
$1.5 million renovation to Hornet Stadium features
a Mondo 400-meter competition track and the adjacent
practice track. John Chaplin, head coach of the U.S.
Olympic men’s team, calls it one of the finest
track facilities in the world. One world record and
five American records were set at the 2000 U.S. Olympic
Trials in July.
USA
Track & Field has 56 associations across the country.
Athletes qualify for the Junior Olympics through association
and regional competitions.
The
2000 Junior Olympics were held in Buffalo, N.Y.
For
more information regarding the Junior Olympics, call
either the Sacramento Sports Commission at (916) 264-7718
or the Pacific Association at (916) 983-4622.
For
hotel listings and other Junior Olympics information,
please see the 