By Madison Braybrooke
Sports Editor
Extra credit, additional practice, and socializing are a package deal for track athletes participating in all-comers meets.
Every year, members of the Costa track team attend off-season track meets known as all-comers meets that provide an opportunity for participants to compete in numerous events outside of Bay League. Athletes participate in these meets in order to show off their abilities and improvement over the course of off-season training.
“These meets highlight the progress we’ve made throughout the year, and they allow us to know where we stand against competitors for future in-season meets,” junior Amrit Randeniya said.
Track athletes are allowed to compete in 13 events during the season and are restricted to four events in one meet. However, at all-comers meets, where no experience is required, participants may compete in as many events as they desire, and meet attendance is unlimited.
“All-comers meets not only help you realize what you need to do to improve as a runner, but they also show how different it is to run with people other than Costa athletes,” sophomore Shante Robinson said.
Various high schools, including Paramount, Arcadia, and Huntington Beach, host these meets to raise money for the track season. Athletes sign up for all-comers meets the day of the event, and they are required to pay a $5 fee. Heats are typically based on times, but in all-comers meets, heats are based on whoever signs up first.
“At all-comers meets, you honestly don’t know what to expect,” Robinson said. “Some people you’ve seen before, while others you haven’t. It brings together a variety of people, both fast and slow runners.”
All-comers meets also incorporate events like the 550-meter sprint and the 55-meter hurdles which aren’t typically in scholastic season meets. Costa coaches offer the entire track team extra credit if 20 athletes show up to compete in an all-comers meet. Also, every athlete that participates automatically receives extra credit. Usually around 30 to 40 Costa athletes decide to attend these meets. The Mustangs have one more all-comers meet tomorrow at Paramount High School at 9 a.m.
“All-comers meets give our track and field athletes an opportunity to get some early season workouts against competition,” coach Moe Russell said. “Competition brings out the best in our track and field athletes, and it brings them together. All-comers meets are not official, but you get the feeling that they are, and it is fun to watch and compete.”
Leave a Reply