Midwest Senior
Spotlight
Track & Field Championships
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The Midwest Senior Spotlight Track & Field Championships pits the best seniors from Wisconsin vs. their counterparts from surrounding states in the Midwest. Traditionally held one week after the WIAA State Championships, the Spotlight Meet provides our best athletes with the opportunity to enjoy one final sendoff competition in more than 20 events.
The 2008 competition, the 10th annual edition of the Spotlight Meet, will be held on Saturday, June 7th. This will be the seventh consecutive year the meet has been contested at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The first two competitions were held at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and discussions are underway to possibly bring a Spotlight Meet to Wisconsin.
The Team Wisconsin lineup is determined by selections made by a coaching staff comprised of a number of event coordinators. Athletes are considered for selection based on performances throughout the year that rank on the State Honor Roll, along with WIAA Tournament performances. The Wisconsin roster is limited to four athletes in each individual event. Up to two squads in each relay can be entered.
The Senior Spotlight Meet was a brainchild of John Nalley from Illinois, who wanted to give elite prep track and field athletes from the Midwest an opportunity to compete on the same stage. Nalley and Iowa’s Dick Washburn brought the concept to fruition, and Illinois and Iowa competed in the inaugural Spotlight Meet in 1999. Wisconsin made its Spotlight debut in 2000. South Dakota will be represented at the Spotlight Meet for the first time in 2008. Nebraska sent a contingent from 2000-2003. Minnesota has been invited, but the date of the meet conflicts with their team state meet. Kansas and Missouri have also had discussions about participating in the competition. The stalwart teams from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois have enjoyed a healthy annual rivalry over the years.
The events are similar to those used during the Wisconsin high school season, except for 400m Intermediate Hurdles are run in place of 300m hurdles. A Distance Medley Relay and a Shuttle Hurdle Relay are also contested at the Spotlight Meet, as well as the Javelin Throw.
Medals are
given out to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, and an Outstanding Athlete from
each state, for each boys and girls, is selected at the conclusion of the
meet. No team scores are kept.
