AlabamaRunners

I want to thank Scottsboro for hosting this year's 5A sectional. They did a great job of keeping this moving and getting results posted quickly. However, the fact that they only have 6 lanes on their track is a problem. It took more heats to complete preliminaries and finals had to be run in 2 heats of 4 lanes. This was a real headache waiting for times to be posted in what should have been a simple matter of watching who crossed the finish line first. I do not want to belittle Scottsboro at all. They have by far the best program in 5A Section 3. But, their facilities are not the best. I would recommend Cullman for next year's meet. The people I talk to (mostly parents) like Cullman best of all the places we have visited. What does everyone else think?

Not that I have a dog in this fight, but while Cullman's facility is nice, there are some practical issues. The high jump apron is small (even for a modest approach). One of the LJ/TJ runways backs into the discus cage, and is short for a modest approach. The other LJ/TJ runway runs parallel to the PV, presenting the possibility of an interesting jousting match.

Beautiful facility, but they're handcuffed by some logistical things that most every track has.

Scottsboro also has lj/tj lanes running parallel with the pole fault lane. The track at Cullman is also a brand new track. It is easier to tell who qualifies in the sprints because of the 8 lanes at Cullman. How do they determine who host the sectionals? Do they put in bids?

Yes. And, sites/bids with 8 lanes and lights are usually preferred over those that do not.

@weathrll
When are bids placed? Who are they placed with? Thank coach.

Not being able to read your topic title is a real headache! What should have be a simple thing like putting an "a" in for an "s" became a real ordeal!!!!!
Give me a break! Our Facilities could be better, of course, but the sectionals meet at Scottsboro (the toughest sectional in 5A) is one of the best run sectionals meets in the state. The two heats of of four thing is a minor problem: #1 become a true track fan #2 buy an inexpensive stop watch, pen and paper. #3 watch the race! PROBLEM SOLVED! You will know who is going to sectionals. Do us all a favor, go figure out how to get the sectionals at cullman and help them get it there. But really, if you don't know how to get the sectional meet then you haven't ever hosted one which means you have no idea what it takes to put one on. But thanks for visiting Scottsboro anyway.

try looking at it from the competitor's viewpoint (where i heard all the complaints). how do you suppose they time themselves with their inexpensive stop watches and paper and pencil? This is not a personal attack on you. It is an observation that other sectionals may not be facing. I do not know what facilities everyone else has. But, it is obvious 8 lanes are better than 6. Most would agree, don't you think. If 6 lanes were so good, more tracks would have 6 lanes.

Although those posting really should learn how to spell "year", I find a legitimate point to be made here. 8-lane tracks are invaluable at large meets, and if Scottsboro didn't have a land-locked track, they would have built one years ago. However, is an 8-lane track worth the hassle? I don't doubt that Cullman could run a good meet given the chance, after all they ran several just this season. But sectional meets involve first time coaches, inexperienced teams, and countless questions about the nature of results. Scottsboro has efficiently run this meet through rain or shine. Both days this year ended without having to turn any lights on, and many athletes ran personal records. Should Cullman be given a chance? At some point, of course, but not simply because they have shiny toys. Giving them a year to prove themselves would be the only way to settle this. Just remeber that we'd be expirementing at the expense of the athletes, which isn't exactly beneficial.

I agree that the 8 lane track is a huge problem, but also Scottsbor's runways for all of their jumps are incredibly short. My 7-step approach at 84 feet is in the grass on Scottsboro's runway and as the best section in the state I know there are jumpers that have a much longer take-off than me, so the runways are a huge problem. Cullman's runways by far have adequate space and length for take-off, and if discus/pole vault are not going on at the same time, then the problem is easily solved. And another good point to bring up is that Cullman has only been in Section 3 for 2 years and before that we hosted the 5A Section 4 Meet for years up until 2008 and still have coaches here who helped work and run that meet. As an athlete, I would much rather have the section somehwere else, even if not at Cullman.

@waideyboy Having an 8 lane track is not a reason to switch something that works...they tried this in 2009 and let's just say it didn't work out! Section 3 is by and large the most competitive section in 5A (as seen in the results of the State Meet - 3 of the top 4 girl's teams). It was very important to follow the time schedule at this Sectional meet,to qualify as many athletes as possible... Isn't that the idea? By running more heats, more athletes have a chance to run with faster/ more competitive athletes- Many of you may not realize this, but @ 90% of ALL the 5A wildcards were earned at this section!

I would submit that fast performers would perform well on an 8 lane track in full heats. The reality of the situation is that if you are scoring 8, you should run them all in the same race. That is the best and fairest way to conduct the race. On the surface of the argument, I really don't care where the meet is held, but to be as fair as possible, logic dictates that a location with an 8 lane tack would ultimately be fairer. After all, my guess is that if you look at 3A and 4A in the distance races, most of the best come out of Section 1 for girls and boys. I don't think the number of lanes has much to do with that in either that Section or yours. Fast runners will perform well regardless. However, to be fair, they should race head to head. Scottsboro may be a fine facility and have great officials and fans, but if it is not at least 8 lanes, it is not an ideal venue for a meet scoring 8 places.