Preview Indoor track 1:30-7:05 today

[mchammer]

Live results
https://live.athletic.net/meets/59390?_ ... hqXqjo052A

[4KornerKat]

Live results
https://live.athletic.net/meets/59390?_ ... hqXqjo052A

Mike,

I believe this was the first competition in the new facility, care to share your first impressions?

[mchammer]

I felt mostly joy at seeing the KSAC in use for a track and field competition. Having a facility like this is a major boost for the sport in Montana. I think every athlete in there felt like I did, that the sport is loved and has a future, and that they as athletes matter. I imagined a hundred years of competition in this building, and all of the great things that will happen. I will always feel very grateful for this facility. This looks and feels like the future we imagined was possible.

I really appreciate how much safer competition is in this facility. There's room for the field events. We don't have to worry about a throwing implement escaping the net, or a vaulter landing on the curb, or sand from the long jump on the track. Throwers don't have to wait for the starter's pistol because he no longer stands next to the cage. There's room for runners to warm up. The boundaries are wider and deeper, not so constrained as we were in the Brick. We were very grateful for the Brick, but regular access and safety is so much better for track in the KSAC.

Seeing Rob and Dale at the meet, and how happy they were for the athletes, was very heart warming for me personally. Many of our volunteer officials have kept the sport alive at MSU for decades. They had the same look. I saw the sprinters leaning into the curves of the 300 oval, and it looked more natural than on a 200. It has to be easier on their joints, and it should be faster. It's a state of the art surface. There was plenty of runway after the finish of the 60.

This was a celebration of the sport and Bobcat Athletics. We've hosted indoor track and field continuously for 61 years. We're the only university in the state able to make that statement. Statement might be the word I'm looking for. GO CATS!

[4KornerKat]

I felt mostly joy at seeing the KSAC in use for a track and field competition. Having a facility like this is a major boost for the sport in Montana. I think every athlete in there felt like I did, that the sport is loved and has a future, and that they as athletes matter. I imagined a hundred years of competition in this building, and all of the great things that will happen. I will always feel very grateful for this facility. This looks and feels like the future we imagined was possible.

I really appreciate how much safer competition is in this facility. There's room for the field events. We don't have to worry about a throwing implement escaping the net, or a vaulter landing on the curb, or sand from the long jump on the track. Throwers don't have to wait for the starter's pistol because he no longer stands next to the cage. There's room for runners to warm up. The boundaries are wider and deeper, not so constrained as we were in the Brick. We were very grateful for the Brick, but regular access and safety is so much better for track in the KSAC.

Seeing Rob and Dale at the meet, and how happy they were for the athletes, was very heart warming for me personally. Many of our volunteer officials have kept the sport alive at MSU for decades. They had the same look. I saw the sprinters leaning into the curves of the 300 oval, and it looked more natural than on a 200. It has to be easier on their joints, and it should be faster. It's a state of the art surface. There was plenty of runway after the finish of the 60.

This was a celebration of the sport and Bobcat Athletics. We've hosted indoor track and field continuously for 61 years. We're the only university in the state able to make that statement. Statement might be the word I'm looking for. GO CATS!

Thank you for the report, I saw a photo of Rob at the meet online somewhere and he certainly looked to be enjoying the meet, I can certainly see how having things a bit more spread out is a benefit.

What do spectators do at these events? As I was wandering around during open houses I was wondering if they'd pull in bleachers, or if people were allowed to stand in certain areas, or how that would be handled.

[mchammer]

Good question about seating. When you entered the north end someone advised you on where you can go. The turf not being used was available for spectators. It was roped off and you were expected to stay in there and try to keep track crossings minimal. With 8 teams there were camps in this area, mixing with spectators. So there were a few hundred sitting or milling around on the turf. Some took positions in other areas, like along the wall outside the track. The situation will evolve. Free admission was a plus. That may change.

I took a few chairs. I think they'll move some small bleacher sections in for the next meet, which may involve fewer athletes and spectators. The 10 toilet stalls seemed to be enough. I didn't see any problems, food or trash left on the turf. It's different, but kind of fun. It's like the Dempsey Center Washington U uses.

One of the best things about this facility is that you don't have much set up for practice. You used to have to drag out pits, standards, cages, catch nets etc... for hours a day. Now that equipment rests in place 24/7. They are using wood cabinets I made 35 years ago to store throwing implements. I thought they would toss those but they still serve.

[grizzh8r]

Good question about seating. When you entered the north end someone advised you on where you can go. The turf not being used was available for spectators. It was roped off and you were expected to stay in there and try to keep track crossings minimal. With 8 teams there were camps in this area, mixing with spectators. So there were a few hundred sitting or milling around on the turf. Some took positions in other areas, like along the wall outside the track. The situation will evolve. Free admission was a plus. That may change.

I took a few chairs. I think they'll move some small bleacher sections in for the next meet, which may involve fewer athletes and spectators. The 10 toilet stalls seemed to be enough. I didn't see any problems, food or trash left on the turf. It's different, but kind of fun. It's like the Dempsey Center Washington U uses.

One of the best things about this facility is that you don't have much set up for practice. You used to have to drag out pits, standards, cages, catch nets etc... for hours a day. Now that equipment rests in place 24/7. They are using wood cabinets I made 35 years ago to store throwing implements. I thought they would toss those but they still serve.

I hope I'm not the only one who finds this nugget of info fantastic. Just because something is older doesn't mean it's any less useful. If it stood up to 3+ decades of use, then it must have been well made. And the guy who made them must have some decent shop skills...

[mchammer]

We weren't allowed to build things in the arena. Projects had to go through facilities services. We couldn't afford that, so I made the cabinets between 1-5 AM. When the sun rose the cabinet had wall-matching paint and seemed to belong. I'm sure Fieldhouse crew noticed the change, but they were so busy they didn't care. We couldn't keep stuff in the real equipment room because Mr Diamond might get upset if we tried to check it out. I kept it in my cubicle, but Solomonson's football staff would take our implements for door-stops. There was animosity for some reason, disrespect. Some items were stolen. If I reclaimed them more would be stolen and never seen again. To make progress I had to gather what I could and find a way to protect it. So I made the cabinets and we began to accumulate equipment.
The Solomonson staff moved on. One night I was making a new throwing circle. You could order one for $500 or make one for under $100. As I was finishing a circular cut the sheet of plywood wanted to sag, but suddenly rose up to level so I finished. Cliff Hysell had emerged from his den and was standing there holding the end in the dark. I thanked him, he nodded and disappeared. Yes times have changed. I have many similar stories but most of them aren't believable.