Meet of Champions coming to S.C. this May
Event under the lights on May 24 at Winthrop University’s Irwin Belk Track and Field Complex
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Olson
jolson@milesplit.us
High school level track and field athletes will have the opportunity to compete against top athletes from other state classifications and leagues in a post season SCRUNNERS Meet of Champions this summer.
The meet, scheduled for May 24 in the evening for an under the lights high-energy atmosphere at the Irwin Belk Track in Rock Hill on the campus of Winthrop University, is presented by scrunners.com, Mitchell Timing and Winthrop track and field.
Tentative events list and standards
For more information go to scrunners.com or contact Olson, managing editor of scrunners.com for the past 12 years. Help in all areas is needed. Contact Olson (jolson@milesplit.us) for how to get involved.
Statements
John Olson - Managing Editor, scrunners.com
“In talking with coaches, parents and athletes in the state there has been a request to have this meet for a long time and I am happy to be involved with growing the sport for the athletes, fans, family members and coaches.
Tentative events list and standards
It is important to me as a former high school athlete to continue to support the sports that make a huge impact on my life and show others ways to give back.
A lot of help is needed to make this event happen with officials, volunteers, sponsors and lots more. Contact me at jolson@milesplit.us or come say hi at a meet for more information."
Tentative events list and standards (Win SCHSL state title in related event or reach 2013 all-state track and field mark/time). Each event capped at 16.
Chad - Mitchell Timing
“Kids with top notch talent, and those that aspire to be more, deserve this chance to go head-to-head without the 1A-4A distinction. Now the best in ANY class have the chance to come out and compete with no labels or barriers - just times. This is a rare opportunity and one I hope many take advantage of.
Winthrop University offers a world-class facility for both athletes and spectators. If you've never experienced a professionally run meet at a facility that was designed for and dedicated to ONE purpose - Track and Field - you owe it to your hard-working athletes and yourself to come and feel that energy!
At Mitchell Timing, we are always working to insure high quality, professional events for S.C. Track & Field athletes become the standard, not the exception. Hopefully the energy of this event, the unique opportunity it offers to athletes, and the support it provides to keep SCRunners.com in top form will continue to grow the sport.
Fast times, great competition, and an electric atmosphere under the lights!
This piece of internet real estate is crucial to sharing out competition opportunities, results, and incredible stories in service to the athletes and those who coach and support them. Mitchell Timing appreciates all SCRunners.com offers for the Track & Field community, and hopes for the site to continue to elevate the sport in S.C.”
John Blackburn
"A post season Meet of Champions is a great opportunity for the track and field athletes of South Carolina to prove themselves against the best in the state."
"Finally the best athletes from across the size divisions get to compete against each other."
John Blackburn
National Scholastic Athletics Foundation
Associate Meet Director, New Balance Nationals
Larry Salley, Porter-Gaud
"A Meet of Champions will be a great addition to high school track in SC. Especially for those athletes from smaller schools, the ability to line up and compete with the best from every division, public and private, is like the 'Hoosiers' of track and field."
John Jones, Spring Valley
"Anything that promotes high school track and field is a good thing. This meet will be a great way to prepare for the New Balance Outdoor Nationals."
Steve Conway, Spartanburg Christian
A Meet of Champions will be a great thing for our sport in South Carolina. Most coaches use Milesplit to compare runners virtually, so it will be very exciting to see the best athletes go head to head and make these virtual races a reality.
Matt Feiling, Byrnes
The meet of champions will give South Carolina a chance to showcase the best talent that S.C. Track and Field has produced. It will also encourage young athletes to be life long athletes with personal goals outside of high school. South Carolina is on the rise and this is just the first step of a big possible future.
About scrunners.com
scrunners.com covers the high school level of cross country and track and field in the state with in-depth coverage, rankings, photographs, video and more. Managing Editor John Olson has been involved with the sport since 1996 when he started to run at Eastside High School in Taylors, where he continues today to support his alma mater with meet management and timing.
About Mitchell Timing
Being owner/operator of Mitchell Timing Group was the next natural step for Chad, who has been involved in track, field, and cross country since junior high. Chad ran as an NCAA Division I athlete at Old Dominion University before heading south to help start the track and field program at Winthrop University.
Having seen the sport from the athletic and coaching angles, Chad understands first-hand how motivating a high quality, professional event can be. And on the flip side, how a poorly run event can leave a sour taste for the sport in your mouth.
As a timer for over 10 years, Chad travels all over the Eastern United States and Midwest. He has even travelled to Trinidad to time an international meet. Mitchell Timing provides custom services for events ranging from dual meets to NCAA Championships.
When he’s not timing meets, Chad spends his time In Rock Hill with his wife and two children.
About Winthrop track and field and Head Coach Ben Paxton (source: winthropeagles.com)
Since his arrival in 1993, Ben Paxton has served as the only head Track and Field coach in Winthrop history and the third cross country coach. Coach Paxton was named the Big South Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001 after back-to-back men’s cross country titles for the Eagles. He was also named the outdoor coach of the year in 1999 and 2004 and indoor coach of the year in 2000.
Prior to coaching at Winthrop, Paxton served as the head Track/Cross Country coach at Old Dominion University from 1989-1992. While at ODU, Paxton coached the Monarchs to a runner-up finish in the CAA, narrowly losing to 11th ranked William and Mary. That same year saw the Monarchs finish 10th in the Southeast NCAA District, their highest finish ever. Paxton coached athletes who set every school record from the 800 meters to the 10,000 meters. Coach Paxton also worked with Craig Cesar, the 8th ranked 800 meter runner in the United States and a two-time SEC champion.
The Eagle cross country and track and field programs have grown under Paxton’s tutelage. Along with two Big South titles in cross country, the Lady Eagles own Big South records in the short sprints, both indoor and outdoor. The Lady Eagles have also captured five conference titles in the 4 X 100 relays including the all-time Big South record of 45.86 at the 2004 NCAA East Regionals.
Coach Paxton has guided five Eagles to the NCAA championships; Jeff Greene in 1994, Adam Growley in 2000, Octavia Goode in 2004, and Jason Williams and Matthew Elliott in 2008. During Paxton’s tenure, the Eagles have captured 55 individual and 10 relay titles, two team championships, and more than 300 athletes earned All-Big South honors. Paxton has also worked with two Olympians; 1988 Marathon runner Margaret Gross and 1992 1,500 meter runner Terrance Herrington.
Paxton also served a four-year appointment to the NCAA Track and Field Committee where he served as chair for both the 2004 NCAA outdoor championships at the University of Texas and the 2004 NCAA cross country championships in Terre Haute, IN
Paxton, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. He and his wife Wendy have two children: Gabriel and Olivia.
About MileSplit
MileSplit is the nation's premier network for high school track & field and cross country. We believe that the heart of the sport is on a local, grassroots level. By facilitating the publishing and business process for our state webmasters, we are able to provide in depth state-by-state coverage of the sport. At the same time, these state portals feed content into a national database allowing us to provide an unprecedented depth of coverage on the national level as well.