Post by WesleyTheWildcat on Jun 24, 2009 14:21:48 GMT -5
It was announced today that Indiana Wesleyan has secured the bid to host the NAIA National Track and Field Championships beginning in 2010 for a minimum three-year period.
While IWU has hosted many NCCAA National Championship events over the years including Men's Basketball, Softball, and Tennis, I believe this to be their first ever NAIA Championship event.
For those that don't know, this is a pretty big deal for the school, community, and the IWU Athletic Department. I've pasted the news story below from the Chronicle Tribune.
IWU to Host Championship
Event will draw thousands to Marion area
by justin kenny
Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:10 AM EDT
jkenny@chronicle-tribune.com
A vision by officials at Indiana Wesleyan that began nearly five years ago came to fruition this week when the university was named host of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Outdoor Track and Field National Championships for the next three years, beginning in May 2010.
In what IWU Executive Vice President Todd Voss is calling “the biggest thing Marion will have ever seen in our city,” more than 5,000 athletes, support personnel and spectators will descend onto Grant County for nearly a week.
“This is easily the biggest athletic event we will have ever hosted,” IWU athletic director Mark DeMichael said. “From what I have been told, it will be the largest event hosted in our school’s history.”
During May’s event in Edwardsville, Ill., near St. Louis, the event featured the best athletes from around the country in the premier NAIA meet of the year. Next year’s championships will be on May 27 to 29, with teams arriving a few days early to settle in and practice.
“Historically, the NAIA awards two-year contracts to host the event, but we really wanted that three-year guarantee with an option for a fourth,” DeMichael said. “It is quite the investment in time and finances, and we wanted to know we would have it for the foreseeable future.”
Voss and IWU track coach John Foss got the idea of hosting the championships while in California for the event several years ago. After watching and researching what was needed to be a host, the duo began gathering support at the university to push for a bid.
“While looking at the track and the facilities, we felt that what we had to offer at Indiana Wesleyan was really similar,” Voss said, “so John and I started to dream about landing this thing for Marion.”
IWU saw its biggest hurdle being seating capacity. The NAIA requires minimum seating for the event of 3,000. Currently, the university track can contain 600 spectators, but that will change in the near future.
Work is already under way on terraced grassy berms on the west and north sides of the current track complex, with a retaining wall in the front. When completed, the berms can be used for seating and also will be flat at the top to accommodate tents and vendors.
Indiana Wesleyan worked with officials from the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville on how to calculate lawn seating.
Other improvements to the track will include additional permanent bleachers, an improved press box, relocation of the hammer throw area and a state-of-the-art scoreboard.
When completed, total attendance capacity will approach 3,800.
The university’s Board of Trustees authorized $300,000 to make the necessary improvements.
“We already have a top-quality facility, but there is a lot of work to be done,” Foss said.
Indiana Wesleyan competed with various other NAIA institutions to win the bid. In a process similar to the Olympic Games’ bidding process, each interested party put together a proposal to be presented to the NAIA. The university presented its bid in January, and NAIA officials visited Marion when Indiana Wesleyan hosted the Little State Meet in March for an on-site inspection of the facilities.
“The NAIA came in and did a full walkthrough of the campus, facilities and to observe how we ran things that day,” DeMichael said. “We really felt like it went smooth and showed what we could do.”
Indiana Wesleyan was awarded with a verbal agreement at the end of May, with contractual discussions delaying the official announcement until this week.
“You could just tell from the facial expressions of the visitors from the NAIA that they were impressed and pleased to have a school so eager to hold the championships here,” Voss said.
One of the biggest selling points on the proposal was Indiana Wesleyan’s Mondo track. The surface, made in Italy, has been used at the track and field venues of the past five Olympic Games, including last year in Beijing.
Voss hopes to be able to create an atmosphere much like the Olympic Village on campus, with tents, vendors and facilities near to the track complex. Teams will have the option to either stay in campus dormitories or at hotels around Marion and Grant County.
Mayor Wayne Seybold has been an important part in supporting Indiana Wesleyan in its goal to earn the event, the organizers said, including being willing to close downtown streets for the marathon event, a distance of 26.2 miles.
“The potential for opportunity for the city and community to feel some financial benefit is tremendous,” Voss said. “The mayor has been a great supporter for the growth of Marion and he has been a key part in all of this.”
Indiana Wesleyan will gain notoriety around the country and could lead to further events coming to the area in the coming years, he said.
“Indiana Wesleyan has been on the national athletic map for a long time, but we have never taken that next step in hosting a national first-class event such as the NAIA championships,” DeMichael said. “It’s going to be a huge benefit to our university and also encompass the whole community.”
While IWU has hosted many NCCAA National Championship events over the years including Men's Basketball, Softball, and Tennis, I believe this to be their first ever NAIA Championship event.
For those that don't know, this is a pretty big deal for the school, community, and the IWU Athletic Department. I've pasted the news story below from the Chronicle Tribune.
IWU to Host Championship
Event will draw thousands to Marion area
by justin kenny
Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:10 AM EDT
jkenny@chronicle-tribune.com
A vision by officials at Indiana Wesleyan that began nearly five years ago came to fruition this week when the university was named host of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Outdoor Track and Field National Championships for the next three years, beginning in May 2010.
In what IWU Executive Vice President Todd Voss is calling “the biggest thing Marion will have ever seen in our city,” more than 5,000 athletes, support personnel and spectators will descend onto Grant County for nearly a week.
“This is easily the biggest athletic event we will have ever hosted,” IWU athletic director Mark DeMichael said. “From what I have been told, it will be the largest event hosted in our school’s history.”
During May’s event in Edwardsville, Ill., near St. Louis, the event featured the best athletes from around the country in the premier NAIA meet of the year. Next year’s championships will be on May 27 to 29, with teams arriving a few days early to settle in and practice.
“Historically, the NAIA awards two-year contracts to host the event, but we really wanted that three-year guarantee with an option for a fourth,” DeMichael said. “It is quite the investment in time and finances, and we wanted to know we would have it for the foreseeable future.”
Voss and IWU track coach John Foss got the idea of hosting the championships while in California for the event several years ago. After watching and researching what was needed to be a host, the duo began gathering support at the university to push for a bid.
“While looking at the track and the facilities, we felt that what we had to offer at Indiana Wesleyan was really similar,” Voss said, “so John and I started to dream about landing this thing for Marion.”
IWU saw its biggest hurdle being seating capacity. The NAIA requires minimum seating for the event of 3,000. Currently, the university track can contain 600 spectators, but that will change in the near future.
Work is already under way on terraced grassy berms on the west and north sides of the current track complex, with a retaining wall in the front. When completed, the berms can be used for seating and also will be flat at the top to accommodate tents and vendors.
Indiana Wesleyan worked with officials from the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville on how to calculate lawn seating.
Other improvements to the track will include additional permanent bleachers, an improved press box, relocation of the hammer throw area and a state-of-the-art scoreboard.
When completed, total attendance capacity will approach 3,800.
The university’s Board of Trustees authorized $300,000 to make the necessary improvements.
“We already have a top-quality facility, but there is a lot of work to be done,” Foss said.
Indiana Wesleyan competed with various other NAIA institutions to win the bid. In a process similar to the Olympic Games’ bidding process, each interested party put together a proposal to be presented to the NAIA. The university presented its bid in January, and NAIA officials visited Marion when Indiana Wesleyan hosted the Little State Meet in March for an on-site inspection of the facilities.
“The NAIA came in and did a full walkthrough of the campus, facilities and to observe how we ran things that day,” DeMichael said. “We really felt like it went smooth and showed what we could do.”
Indiana Wesleyan was awarded with a verbal agreement at the end of May, with contractual discussions delaying the official announcement until this week.
“You could just tell from the facial expressions of the visitors from the NAIA that they were impressed and pleased to have a school so eager to hold the championships here,” Voss said.
One of the biggest selling points on the proposal was Indiana Wesleyan’s Mondo track. The surface, made in Italy, has been used at the track and field venues of the past five Olympic Games, including last year in Beijing.
Voss hopes to be able to create an atmosphere much like the Olympic Village on campus, with tents, vendors and facilities near to the track complex. Teams will have the option to either stay in campus dormitories or at hotels around Marion and Grant County.
Mayor Wayne Seybold has been an important part in supporting Indiana Wesleyan in its goal to earn the event, the organizers said, including being willing to close downtown streets for the marathon event, a distance of 26.2 miles.
“The potential for opportunity for the city and community to feel some financial benefit is tremendous,” Voss said. “The mayor has been a great supporter for the growth of Marion and he has been a key part in all of this.”
Indiana Wesleyan will gain notoriety around the country and could lead to further events coming to the area in the coming years, he said.
“Indiana Wesleyan has been on the national athletic map for a long time, but we have never taken that next step in hosting a national first-class event such as the NAIA championships,” DeMichael said. “It’s going to be a huge benefit to our university and also encompass the whole community.”
