For the thirty-fourth straight year, high school athletes will run around Eastern’s track this Friday and Saturday.

These same athletes will bring friends and family from across the state to Charleston to watch them compete in the Illinois High School Association’s Girls State Track Meet and Charleston businesses will benefit.

Eastern’s Assistant Athletic Director for Special Projects and Eastern’s former Sports Information Director Dave Kidwell said around between 10,000 and 12,000 people will be in attendance this weekend.

“That is a sizeable number of people that will spend money in Mattoon and Charleston,” he said.

Not only will restaurants, gas stations and hotels benefit, but the university benefits from the influx of guests as well.

IHSA Assistant Executive Director Ron McGraw said nearly 2,300 athletes from across the state will compete in the two-day event.

These 2,300 athletes will be exposed to Eastern’s athletic facilities, housing services and staff.

“For a lot of the athletes, it is the first and only time they will see the university,” Kidwell said.

Planning for the event started in April. Everyone from carpenters to administrators work to put Eastern’s best face forward to the athletes and thousands of guests.

The event is more than a track meet; it is a recruitment tool for the university.

Since O’Brien Stadium and Lantz Fieldhouse are both used during the events, athletes get to see the athletic facilities first hand. Most athletes get to experience what dorm living is like since they are housed in the residence halls and are fed in the dining halls. Eastern track coaches and athletic officials work the event, giving athletes and possible recruits the chance to meet the coaches. Eastern’s track coaches work the event by providing results and Eastern athletic department officials do everything from ticket sales to training, Kidwell said.

“It’s very likely we can get a sizable amount of them to attend school here,” said Kidwell. “The track coaches obviously benefit from having the best track athletes in the state here.”

Mary Wallace, Eastern’s women’s track head coach uses the event to scout possible athletes for her team.

“We evaluate the athletes on their performances, athletic ability and competitive effort,” she said. “We also look to see if individuals qualify in more than one event.”

Track coaches are not the only Easter coaches that use the event to scout possible athletes. Women’s Rugby head coach Frank Graziano uses the event to look for athletes for his team.

“I need girls who run fast,” he said. “Track is where they are.”

While Graziano needs athletes that run fast, he also looks to throwers to find athletes for his team.

“The throwers are wonderful athletes as well,” Graziano said. “Very strong and athletic.”

Graziano has had several players on his rugby team that run track and play rugby. Graziano said it is difficult to get senior track runners to commit to rugby because they are usually committed to running track in college.

“But if they are interested in a multi-sport opportunity then I am certainly interested,” Graziano said.

Recruiting for athletics isn’t the only benefit Eastern receives from hosting the track meet.

Wallace believes hosting the track meet gives Eastern statewide exposure.

“It offers an opportunity for all of the participants and spectators to experience our campus in an up close and personal manner,” Wallace said.

Not only do participants and spectators get exposed to Eastern, thousands will get to read about Eastern in sports sections across the state. Fifty newspapers will send staff to cover the event, Kidwell said. Eastern will be mentioned in most of the articles.

“It’s free publicity that you can’t buy,” Kidwell said.

Competitors compete in a relay during the 2005 IHSA Girls State Track Finals hosted in O’Brien Stadium. The 2007 track finals begin Friday morning. (File Photo/The Daily Eastern News)

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