Steinbrenner unveils major track meet at USF

Posted Feb 16, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 16, 2010 at 03:33 PM

For the first time since its completion in 2008, the world-class track and field facility at the University of South Florida will be the site of a major high school meet when the USF/George M. Steinbrenner Invitational makes its debut March 20.

Steinbrenner High will be the meet’s high school host, with head track coach Ladd Baldwin acting as meet director. USF’s new facility, which, with public funds from Hillsborough County, was completed at a cost of about $3 million. The track is a new Mondo surface, the same surface used in the past several Olympic Summer Games, and is surrounded by a sidewalk that spectators can use to take it various events.

The track also features a new scoreboard for results and digital graphics. In addition, there is thousand of dollars worth of new landscaping dotting the facility.

The meet is now open for registration at a cost of $50 per team, $100 per school or $20 per individual. The meet should attract most of Hillsborough County, as well as some of the top teams and individuals around the state.

Action on March 20 begins with field events at 9 a.m., followed by sprint and hurdles prelims at noon and running event finals at 2:30.

Coaches can register at this link: http://fl.milesplit.us/meets/62055/” title=” http://fl.milesplit.us/meets/62055/”> http://fl.milesplit.us/meets/62055/

A FAQ on what coaches need to do in order to register can be found via this link: http://fl.milesplit.us/help/faq/meetreg