How did the Schlotzsky's Invitational start and when and where?
It started out as the "Hanna Invitational" in 1988 or 1999 with only four schools, Hanna, Westside, Eastside and Mauldin. It was held at the old Hanna High School which is now McCants Middle School. We lost $400 on the meet the first year. Thankfully we have made a profit on the meet every year since then.
How long does it take to prepare the course and what is involved?
It takes 12 to 24 hours, spread out over the one and a half weeks prior to the meet. Since the meet is now held at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Complex there is usually a good bit of damage control, erosion and facility problems, from one year to the next that usually doesn't occur on a closed public school campus. Since the course is held on probably 95-96-percent natural terrain, it is a challenge just to get the limbs, briars, and grass cut, in addition to spray painting the roots that are on various parts of the course.
It seems like every year we have to make some type of minor change to the course layout, which means that the entire course has to be measured again to make sure that it is an accurate 5,000 meters. After all this is done I spray paint an almost unbroken line for the entire length or the course. I also put out at least 50 traffic cones in various places on the course. Usually the last thing that we do is rope off the spectator and finish line area.
How many volunteers are involved with the meet?
We usually use around 25-35 cross country parents as "appointed" volunteers.
Leading up to meet day, what kind of work is required and about how many hours and people are involved?
Besides the already explained course preparation and maintenance, awards have to be ordered and picked up, meet t-shirts have to be designed, ordered and picked up, and the meet numbers have to be ordered and picked up. All of this work is what has to take place to get the race course and pre-meet duties completed. The computer scoring system set-up is another "animal"" which also takes a lot of work hours. All of this work is done by last years meet director, Frank Grand and this years co-meet directors, Brent Jackson and Andrew KIng.
How many course monitors are used?
Around 24 in two shifts of 12.
How has timing the races changed over the years?
From hand timing and scoring in 1988 to computerized timing and scoring with barcodes today.
How has the meet grown?
In 1988 or 1989, I started the meet as the "Hanna Invitational" with four teams. Around 1993 or 1994, I approached Lou Hart, who is the local Schlotzsky's owner about sponsoring the meet. Luckily for me, Lou's daughters ran on the cross country team. Lou was very receptive about sponsoring the meet. He and I both wanted the meet to grow and become a first class event. With Schlotzsky's financial commitment I was able to invite more teams and put more money into the awards which I feel attracted more teams. The meet was moved to the current T. L. Hanna High School where was held until 2001. My son Keith graduated from T. L. Hanna where he was a very good football player. He received a football scholarship to Gardner-Webb University. Since I wanted to be able to see him play I decided to stop hosting the meet in 2001. By that time, the meet, which started out with four teams in 1988, had grown to 32 teams in 2001.
In 2011, with retirement looming, I decided to start another invitational. I approached Lou Hart at Schlotzsky's again and asked him if he would be receptive to sponsoring the meet again, and luckily he agreed to do it again. The meet started again with only four to five teams participating, The meet continued to grow in 2012 and 2013. It looked like the meet would be much bigger this season but we were hit with a date change that was beyond our control around the first of August. We had to change the date of the meet to October 4. Our numbers will be down this year but the meet should continue growing again next year.
What challenges have occurred?
The main challenge that has occurred is I was 39 in 1988 and I'm 65 in 2014. Besides that, it is always a challenge when you have to change the course almost every year because of school construction, facility improvements or erosion.
What else has changed or been altered in the meet?
Not much that hasn't already been mentioned.
What future plans do you have for the meet?
My plans are to continue to help the new meet directors with whatever they need me to do to keep the meet successful.
Has the meet changed directors hands over time?
I started the meet in 1988, turned it over to Frank Grand in 2013, who in turn turned it over to Brent Jackson and Andrew King in 2014.
What else should we know?
I'm proud to be able to say that I coached Brent and Andrew and now they are in charge of a meet that I truly love.
What's unique about this meet?
The meet is started on time, finished on time and it takes place on an accurate, challenging, spectator friendly, well marked course. We give plenty of top quality awards and printed results at the end of the meet to every school. We have 5,000Varsity and J.V. races and a 3500-meter race for middle school runners.