The seventh annual Flrunners.com Middle School State Championship will go on as scheduled on May 3 at 9AM. The meet will be again held at the National Training Center in Clermont. There were some doubts whether the meet would happen in 2008, simply for lack of time by flrunners.com founder Jason Byrne, who had been responsible for the majority of the planning for the event.
At a meeting today in Haines City, Byrne agreed to a partnership with Lakeland Track Club coach Paul White and recently retired National Training Center track director Don DeNoon to continue the event and expand upon it.
"I am happy that we could work it out," Byrne said, "this event has become very important in the state and it means a lot to our next generation of athletes. It's great that I was able to get some help to do the planning and execution of the championship since time didn't really permit me to continue doing it myself."
White and DeNoon will take over the race management, promotion, and communication with the regional directors. Byrne will stay involved in the high level overseeing of the event and the series, ensuring the mission and spirit of the event are continued, and helping to promote the event.
To qualify for the state championship, athletes must compete and qualify through their designated regional qualifying meet. Last year there were five regions. Although nothing has been decided, there may be an additional region added this year if sufficient support and a qualified meet host is found for an additional qualifying meet.
Panhandle - April 19 at Maclay in Jacksonville
North - April 19 at Episcopal in Jacksonville
South - April 19 at Belen Jesuit in Miami
West/Central - April 26 at NTC in Clermont
East - ? in Melbourne
More details will be announced later. If anyone is interested in hosting a regional event or has questions about the series, please contact Jason Byrne at jason@flrunners.com.
At a meeting today in Haines City, Byrne agreed to a partnership with Lakeland Track Club coach Paul White and recently retired National Training Center track director Don DeNoon to continue the event and expand upon it.
"I am happy that we could work it out," Byrne said, "this event has become very important in the state and it means a lot to our next generation of athletes. It's great that I was able to get some help to do the planning and execution of the championship since time didn't really permit me to continue doing it myself."
White and DeNoon will take over the race management, promotion, and communication with the regional directors. Byrne will stay involved in the high level overseeing of the event and the series, ensuring the mission and spirit of the event are continued, and helping to promote the event.
To qualify for the state championship, athletes must compete and qualify through their designated regional qualifying meet. Last year there were five regions. Although nothing has been decided, there may be an additional region added this year if sufficient support and a qualified meet host is found for an additional qualifying meet.
Panhandle - April 19 at Maclay in Jacksonville
North - April 19 at Episcopal in Jacksonville
South - April 19 at Belen Jesuit in Miami
West/Central - April 26 at NTC in Clermont
East - ? in Melbourne
More details will be announced later. If anyone is interested in hosting a regional event or has questions about the series, please contact Jason Byrne at jason@flrunners.com.