Thursday sectionals mixed bag for participants

May 13, 2010

By Dirk Campbell of Genoa-Kingston High School


One change that the IHSA made for the 2010 track season was moving some of the sectionals to Thursday night.
The change allows for more officials, but at the same time competing in a long invite can be tough on the athletes, especially with more travel in the three class system.
Some schools won't return from the meets until 11:30 p.m..
"It is physically and emotionally draining," said Genoa-Kingston girls coach Barry Schmidt, who will watch his Cogs compete in Thursday's Rockford Christian Sectional.
Sycamore girls coach Joe McCormick doesn't like competing on a Thursday, but to him there is one positive aspect of it.
Sycamore holds its prom the Saturday after sectionals, and that has caused problems for McCormick recently when the Friday sectional meet has been rained out, forcing teams to compete on Saturday, and forcing McCormick to be short on athletes due to prom.
"Won't be a issue for me anymore. Sixteen years of worrying about that and now I can stop," McCormick said. "I know one year I think we left the sectional with 12 girls.
"It usually comes down to prom or track. More often than not prom wins. It's unfortunate that they're put in that situation."