Halden Invitational boon for DHS track
The prep track world came back to town Saturday as the Halden Invitational drew more than 3,000 athletes and fans to Ron & Mary Brown Stadium.
Members of the Davis High Blue and White Foundation promised six years ago that a refurbished campus stadium would mean renewed pride, greater safety for athletes, a focal point for regional competition and a way to either save or raise much-needed capital.
Saturday’s track meet — known as the Halden Relays for decades — was another ray of light from the $6 million community/district project, which was completed last year.
“This has been terrific,” Blue Devil track coach Spencer Elliott said, looking around at the morning’s bee hive of activity. “Since this is the first time back for this, on a scale of 10? I’d give it a nine. “I’ve been writing things down that we’ll do differently next year. As soon as I get to a point where I’m not writing things down any more, that would make this all a 10!”
With 25 schools from as far a Calavaras County and Sparks, Nev., competing, visiting coaches had nothing but praise for the facility and how Elliott, his staff and volunteers had been running the daylong meet.
“This was always a legendary meet for Yolo County and the region,” veteran Woodland High coach Chuck Bruns explained. “And now that Davis has this wonderful facility, it’s nice to see that (former DHS coach and teacher Dewey Halden’s) legendary name is again associated with a great meet.
“This has been good stuff.”
As athletes ran on a track and competed on a field that still bears Halden’s name, it was obvious that new bleachers made fans comfortable, viewpoints were unobscured and the sound system was easy for fans and athletes to hear.
Elliott praised the efforts of Blue Devil track guardian angel Sarah Rock, who normally coordinates home meets, travel plans and “whatever the team needs.”
“We are very lucky to have Sarah,” Elliott continued. “She’s really, really good at recognizing what we need at meets and terrific at getting volunteers to where we need them, allowing coaches to coach and the athletes to be competitors without having to worry about other things.”
Elliott hinted the timing — many schools were wrapping up spring break — might need some adjustment in the future. Because of the break, some schools came with smaller-than-expected squads.
But with 1,000 athletes on hand — and an estimated 2,200 fans ebbing and flowing during the 10-hour festival — local coaches were in a good mood.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase this new facility,” DHS distance coach Bill Gregg said.
Notes: The snack bar was open all day, commemorative T-shirts were on sale and, as the distance races began, local youth band Uncle Tony played into the night. … The Woodland Invitational and the Halden Relays were once prominent in the Northern California track psyche. But more than 20 years ago, the DHS relays fell apart with the school’s track in disrepair and stands falling apart. Then, in 2005, the Wolves’ meet ended — prep schools (especially those with college-bound athletes) — shying away from cinder tracks. “There’s a grassroots effort to raise a couple of million dollars for a new track,” Bruns explains. “But there’s also a fundraising effort just to keep education up to par. So, as a teacher and a coach, our effort for funds is to get the kids educated first.” Bruns has been the Wolves coach for 13 seasons. He also teaches English. … “Team mom” Rock’s kids Ian and Charlotte compete for the Devils.
— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at bgallaudet@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8047. To view galleries and purchase prints of Blue Devil sports photos, visit http://davisenterprise.zenfolio.com
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=37285
Posted by Bruce Gallaudet
on Apr 23 2011.
Last Login: Tue 22 May 2012 11:46:20 PM PDT
Filed under Blue Devils, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
