spoRTSBEAT BY PETER JAKEY:Hurons host first track meet in five years
Having the first home track meet in Rogers City since 2001 Tuesday was like a breath of fresh air for the Huron athletes. It was nice for them to be able to compete against another school on the place they so often spend their time, but it also was a break from the travel. No trip on the bus there and back, plus it was a financial break for parents, who most of the time have to fork up the cost of a tank of gas in some of the locations the Hurons have to go to. Most of all, having the meet at home was a treat. None of the current members of the Rogers City squad has ever been able to participate in a home event. They have been the visiting club for a half a decade.
?THIS IS ONE of the few opportunities that a lot of these kids are ever going to have, to have their families come out and watch them,? said coach Nick Rethman. He said the numbers on the track team have improved and there has been more interest, and this will only help the program. All the work by the school maintenance staff that led up to making it all possible, and the volunteers that put in their time on the day of the meet, their efforts were not in vein judging by the comments of some of the seniors. ?This is a lot of fun. I want to give something extra,? said James Bruning, just before heading off to a running event. ?This is quite amazing,? said Jeremy Karsten. ?This is nice because it is my senior year,? said Jessica Hempel. She took part in the discus throw in the newly set up area in the field on the south side of the track.
EQUIPMENT HAS been a major reason why schools do not want to come to Rogers City. Rethman said many upgrades have been made over the last couple of years, and some items that had been around since the 1970s were replaced, mostly through three grants written by Deb Greene. Her boys have graduated and moved on, but she still wants to help the program. She was able to secure a total of $2,500 in grants from Presque Isle Electric and Gas, the Youth A
WITH EQUIPMENT improvements to the shot put pit, long jump, high jump, and discus throw areas, Rudyard and Newberry agreed to travel to come to Rogers City. Another reason schools have declined invitations is because the track does not have a rubberized coating. According to principal Deb Jones, who recorded the distances of the discus throwers and later cheered the Huron runners, that upgrade would be too costly. And don?t expect to see any pole vaulting events in Rogers City anytime soon because the pole vault pit alone costs about $10,000.
As the afternoon progressed at a steady pace, Rethman?s only concern was that everything would go smooth enough that the schools would return. One thing can be said: the kids absolutely loved the experience. It also can be considered a starting point for getting future track meets in RC.