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8th Annual and Final Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Meet to be contested in the O’Connell - Jimmy Carnes Invitational 2014Published by
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Gainesville, FL- Dec.8, 2014- The 8th Annual Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field meet will be contested in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24. This will be the last track meet contested on the storied 34 year old O’Dome track which has seen numerous World, USA professional, high school, and age group records and national leaders. Later this year, the O’Dome renovations begin which include removing the track. “Former Gainesville Sports Commission Executive Director, Jack Hughes [who died a week after last year’s event] started out hoping this meet would be a staple on the track and field calendar,” said Larry Holsey, meet director. “We’ve tripled the number of entries from 600 to 1900 in eight years so we’ve accomplished more than Jack could have ever imagined. It is sad to see the meet end in the O’Connell Center, but we hope we can contest something else on the outdoor facility to replace it. We would like to see former UF Head Track and Field Coach Jimmy Carnes’ legacy continue on.” The meet was named after Jimmy Carnes, the 1980 U.S. Olympic track & field team Head Track Coach, Head Coach of the Florida Gators track and field team from 1965-1976, the founder of the Florida Track Club, member of the U.S. Track & Field Hall of Fame, co-founder of the Athletic Attic running store chains, President of TAC (now USA Track and Field), Board member of the International Special Olympics, and pioneer in track and field who passed on March 5, 2011.
Saturday’s competition will have over 1, 300 athletes from ages 5 to 19 years. Registration for Saturday’s Youth competition is currently open at Coach O. https://coachoregistration.com/dbi-bin/meetinfopage.pl?Web_Site_Id=fl_gsc&Meet_Id=jimcarindi1402&Team_Id=&
Youth entrants are asked to pay particular attention to this year’s entry deadlines. Early Entries will close for online registration at 11:59pm on 1/14/15 and will be $25 fee for up to three events. Late Entries will be accepted between 1/15/15-1/19/15 @ 11:59pm at a cost of $50 for up to three events. No entries will be accepted after 1/19/15 @ 11:59pm.
“In past years, coaches, athletes and fans have let us know they prefer to divide the elementary and middle school aged kids from the high schoolers,” said Holsey. “We’ve listened! We think this format will help things run smoothly and won’t keep the athletes at the meet for the entire day.” The Youth 3000 meter run will be contested on Friday after the University/Open division races finish too. “We think that this will reduce the time for Saturday’s competition and give the distance runners some rest if they want to double.” In addition, the vendor area will feature The Runner’s Space who will have the latest track spikes and running equipment http://www.therunnerspace.com for the upcoming high school season and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers who will be having a blood and bone marrow drive with activities and recognition items. Admission is $5 for spectators for each day and can enter at Gate 1 of the O’Connell Center. Parking is free at the O’Connell Center Parking lot. More detailed information can be found on the Gainesville Sports Commission site at http://www.gainesvillesportscommission.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/GSCJimmyCarnes2015Indoor.pdf
A full schedule follows
Open / University/Master (Friday, January 23)
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