It was in the spring of 1998 when I attended my first Rotary Relays at Winder-Barrow High School.
At the time, it was one of the top events of the track season for this area. Teams from across the state competed as well as a few from out of state. Unfortunately, it seems all good things do end — at least temporarily.
coaches to excel under these conditions is ridiculous.
The event was not held this year and it’s a shame for those who have a tie to WBHS track history. It’s a shame for people like Cook Holliday and Isaiah Berry, who helped make the track program so successful.
And, it’s a shame to the current track athletes and coaches who had the event cancelled through no fault of their own.
The track at W. Clair Harris Stadium, while in good enough condition to host meets, is no longer sound enough to host events of this magnitude. Worn down areas and a lack of adequate restroom facilities played a role in the event being cancelled this spring.
When you combined the issue of other larger schools hosting events of this size on newer running surfaces and with new facilities, the Rotary Relays fell through the cracks — literally — for 2011.
There is some good news in all of this. The current WBHS track coaches, who are doing a stellar job with the program this season, are determined to bring the event back for 2012. It will be a challenge but there are indications that preparation will begin as soon as the current track season ends.
Some things are out of the coaches’ hands, however. The track needs to be redone and certain areas of W. Clair Harris Stadium upgraded.
Anyone who has had to pull their pants legs up while entering the restroom knows this all too well.
The track is open to the entire community and gets heavy use. This means, of course, that the track is going to wear down quicker in certain areas. Those who don’t compete on it aren’t necessarily concerned with its upkeep. However, as a community we should take pride in the track at W. Clair Harris Stadium and want to see it in as good a shape as possible.
Track has a long history in Barrow County. Numerous region championships have been won. Individual athletes have won state championships through the year and gone on to college because of their track abilities. One of the state’s all-time top track coaches worked at WBHS for decades.
It’s a shame that one high school track in the county is in such need of repair and the other is at a stage where home meets cannot be held. This robs the student-athletes who put in hours of work in preparing for their sport.
As a community we should care more. We should do whatever it takes to bring our two high school tracks up to date with others in the immediate area. The athletes deserve it. The coaches deserve it.
Those who paved the way in track in Barrow County deserve it.
If the school board can’t afford it then we should care enough as a community to see that it gets done. I would be the last to suggest you have to help, but it’s somewhere where we need to help.
Hopefully, the Rotary Relays will return in 2012 on a revamped track.
And hopefully at some point in the future, AHS will be able to host home track meets. Asking athletes and coaches to excel under these conditions is ridiculous.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com
