As the VHSL Group AAA State Indoor Track & Field Championships approach this weekend at the new Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton and the excitement builds for a showcase of the best high school track & field athletes in Virginia, so do the complaints about the logistics and any shortfalls with the new facility which was build with a first priority to basketball.
There should be a warning though for those ready to fire away with complaints about this facility, because instead of pushing the VHSL to look at another venue, you might be pushing the state association to instead think about limiting the number of athletes that can qualify for state competition or elimination of the sport altogether.
We honestly do not have many great options as far as venues and that is what it comes down. Several of the colleges in our state have nice venues, but their first priorities are not to the high school meets. There might be hope in the new facility being built in Virginia Beach which could produce great performances, hold adequate number of spectators, and be setup well to host track meets, but that facility is yet to be completed.
I'm a big proponent of progress and reform in our sport and will usually be the first to be critical of anything in the sport that holds us back from progressing to become a more popular and stronger sport, but this is an issue I'm willing to keep quiet in order for our sport to at least maintain in tough economic times when some school districts are considering cutting the sport altogether. Our championship meets have quite frankly have been held in much worse facilities and conditions. The Eastern Region Championships were held for the longest time outdoors in the freezing cold. The Central Region Championships are still held on a spikeless 145 meter track surface at the Arthur Ashe Center.The Boo Williams facility is a huge improvement for a venue when considering our past in the sport.
Would hate to see some of these hard working athletes not have an opportunity to qualify and compete in a state meet next year, because the spectators complained so much that the VHSL decided to make the meet much smaller so they no longer have to deal with the complaints. Yes there are likely going to be some inconveniences this weekend at the meet, but remember that it could get worse. The Tidewater area is fortunate that Boo Williams even considered to put an indoor track in his facility and the number of national caliber performances produced from there this season is enough to show the positive effect this facility has had on the area.
I'll make sure to get plenty of video of the events this weekend so any action you miss or couldn't see from a bad angle, it will be replayed on the site. Try to go into this weekend with a positive attitude and willing to work around anything that does not meet your standards. Survive this weekend and then we can look ahead to next year. I'm very fearful that there might be a negative result out of a bunch of angry complaints about the facility this weekend and post-meet. Lets thank the people first that are going to work hard to make this meet happen and then give any constructive criticism in an amiable rather than hostile way. Remember that this event should be for the athletes first and not the spectators and coaches. Be careful what you wish for...