Last year's TCA Polar Bear introduced the idea of winter outdoor track and field to Colorado.
This year's TCA Polar Bear figures to be bigger and better.
All of last year's events--the 600, 1000, 2000, DMR, shot put, and discus return. Added to the slate of events this year will be the 200 hurdles and high jump.
Also added are two brand-new state-of-the-art throwing facilities. The new shot put area shown above features two rings--one for competition and a second for warm-up. The new discus ring shown below now opens onto a turf baseball outfield. That means you can bring your nice discs without fear of getting them scratched up.
The 200 meter hurdles will be spaced exactly as the 300 meter hurdles are spaced, only there won't be as many hurdles. This helps give hurdles a feel of real competition without the mid season fitness requirement. The hurdle races will start at the usual 300 meter hurdles starting line and finish at the top of the front straight.
The point of the odd distance-event distances is to promote the idea of learning to race by feel rather than by a predetermined strategy. We aren't qualifying for anything; we're getting the feel of racing back into our legs before the state-sanctioned season begins.
All events will be hand-timed, and results will be posted to Colorado Track XC.
The scheduled date for 2017's version of the TCA Polar Bear is Saturday, February 18, at 9:30 AM. Since this is winter outdoor track and field, we are a bit at the mercy of the weather. We are holding aside Monday, February 20, at 9:30 AM (Presidents Day) as an alternate date. Any calls on the weather will be made in the week leading up to the meet and will be announced on Colorado Track XC.
The meet is open to high schoolers and middle school athletes who feel up to taking on the challenge.
Registration is $10 for as many events as you want to try and is payable at the meet (we don't want to get into refunding money if the weather forces a cancellation). Athletes who wish only to run a leg of the DMR may enter for a fee of $5. A waiver will be required for each participating athlete and will be made available here for download closer to the date of the meet.
DMR teams must bring their own batons. Throwers must bring their own implements.
Track order of events will be: 1000, 600, 200 Hurdles, 2000, DMR. Cheyenne Mountain set the standard for future boys DMR competition last year with an 11:10.2.
The TCA Polar Bear welcomes both teams and individuals. Coaches thinking of bringing teams should contact me by email. If you don't have an email address for me, there is one shown in the banner area at the bottom of the page.
Keep watching here for more information!