Track & Field in The Summertime...

For several summers now, I've spent 3 or 4 weekends traveling to USATF & AAU Track meets, as well as the Iowa Games.  I suppose you have to be a true fan of the sport to make these trips because it means full days spent in the 9o plus days of Iowa sun. This past weekend we hung around the track at an AAU Nationals qualifier in Pella at Central College, steaming on Saturday, and being windblown on Sunday. Was it worth the time and the sunburn? Probably.  My daughter qualified for Nationals (which this year will be held at Drake Stadium) in two events...AND, I got to watch a lot of talented and promising young track athletes compete. These meets have age groups that range from about 7 thru 18...and I'll admit that there have ben many times when I questioned the wisdom of having tiny tots out there running grueling races when it's 90+ in the very sparse shade with outrageous humidity....but that's another blog. In the youngest divisions, the numbers are large, with upwards of five heats in prelims. As the kids age, the numbers drop off some, and in the oldest divisions, many times there are fewer than 7 participants in each event...sometimes 1 or 2. It's interesting to watch the progression of these kids. and after a while, some names become very familiar....they are the serious participants...the ones you see year after year, meet after meet, and they are names you will probably see on the Drake and State High School participants list. Among those names in the Linn County area, are Hannah & Madeline Saville. Readers probably know the fun loving, genial good sport, Scott Saville, as a great High School Sports reporter for KCRG. He is also the proud father of two exceptional young ladies who are now very familiar figures on the summer track.  Hannah & Madeline run for the Cedar Rapids Track Club, and are regular medalists in their events, which range from the 200 to the 1500 meter, with the 400, 800 and 1500 being their specialties. Both girls run the 800 in times that would be considered very respectible, and in fact could merit a state qualifier spot, IF they were in High School instead of grade school. These two girls exemplify something else as well...Good old fashioned Iowa manners. Each time they run in an event, and are congratulated, they are polite, appreciative, and humble. Though they surely know that other track teams know who they are, and consider them to be among the best...though they have collected lots of hardware already, and are not even in junior high yet, the girls are approachable and kind...and always represent themselves, their team, and their state well. They are GREAT role models for other young athletes...and it's a pleasure to watch them run. It will be a lot of fun to see how they develop as high school runners...and whichever school gets them is going to be BLESSED in a big way.Great job to all the young people who devote so much free time to training and weekend track meets. You are ALL true athletes.All you track lovers...check the schedule for the AAU Nationals in Des Moines July 31st through August 9th...and make the trip to see some elite young runners. It's worth the trip!