MHS set to host relays

Even with the demolition of Joe Quintal stadium well under way, the Corn Palace Relays are right on schedule.

The 63rd annual track and field meet is set to kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.

And while the spectators will have some adjusting to do in regards to seating, Mitchell coach Geoff Gross says the competitors should be just fine.

“It won’t affect us one bit,” said Gross, who is in his second season coaching the Kernels. “The actual track and field events area won’t be an issue, but this will be kind of an odd meet because of the challenges with the seating situation.”

Spectators can expect very limited seating with a few bleachers pulled over from Cadwell Park, but are encouraged to bring along a lawn chair for optimal comfort.

“We don’t want people to be surprised,” Gross said. “There will be very limited seating.”

One thing the competitors always seem to have to deal with, though, is Mother Nature — evidenced by last year’s all-day rainfall.

The forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of rain before 10 a.m., but then it should clear up for the rest of the day. That would be a welcomed sight to a 15-or-so team field expected to be present.

While it will be just the second outdoor meet of the young season, Gross said it will still be important for the teams to have a chance to gauge themselves against some stiff competition.

Like last season’s Corn Palace Relays, there will be two divisions competing in relay events: the “elite” division for “AA” teams and any other small-school teams that petition for the right to compete, and the “B” division for all other teams.

For the right to compete in the “elite” division, teams must show they can post a standard time, which is set by the meet’s officials prior to Saturday.

Other open events that will include all schools will be the 100- and 110-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, 3,200-meter run, high jump and pole vault.

There will be an “A” division and a “B” division in the 1,600-meter run, 300-meter hurdles and all other field events.

Mitchell will be competing in the “AA” division with expected arrivals, Aberdeen, Huron, Rapid City Stevens and possibly Rapid City Central. Each of the Rapid City schools will be sending a limited number of athletes depending on weather elsewhere.

Even with a small number of large schools expected to compete, Gross hopes his team can use this weekend as a learning tool.

“In just our second outdoor meet, it will tell us where we’re at in our training,” Gross said. “And unlike last year, hopefully we won’t have to battle the elements.”

As long as spectators remember a lawn chair, no one will.

Tags: corn palace relays, joe quintal, sports, track, kernels