FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gainesville, FL- The 9th Annual Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field meet will be contested in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Saturday, February 6, 2016.  The meet is conducted under the auspices of the Gainesville Sports Commission.  This will be the last track meet contested on the storied 35 year old O’Connell Center 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.

“We are glad to be able to have it back for one more year!” said Larry Holsey, meet director after renovations to the O’Dome were postponed until March of 2016. “We hope to see another set of fantastic races and field events.”

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 be open to athletes from ages 5 to 19 years. Registration for Saturday’s Youth competition is currently open at Coach O. 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 1/28/16. Entry fee for the event is $30 for up to three events. Late Entries will be accepted between 1/29/16 @ 12:00AM to2/01/16 @ 11:59pm at a cost of $50 for up to three events. No entries will be accepted after 2/01/16 @ 11:59PM.

The track and field schedule will be the same as used for the Youth competition last year. The shot put and long jump for those 14 years old and under will be held in the morning on the basketball level while the track events for the 15 years and older competitors will be held on level 2. Indoor shot puts will be provided and are the only ones to be used in warm-up and competition.  In the afternoon, the age categories will reverse with the 15 years and older contesting the shot put and long jump and the 14 and under competing in the track events.

The pole vault will be contested for ages 13 and up beginning at 8:30AM.

Because of time constraints, the Youth 3000 meter run and the University/Open division races will not be contested this year.

“We could not find a date that could accommodate those two events,” said Holsey.

Admission is $7 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 Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Meet

Live meet results will be posted at halfmiletiming.com. Meet updates will be posted twitter account @RickyQuintana,  #JimmyCarnes and the Gainesville Sports Commission Facebook page.