Cessna Stadium preps for National Junior Olympics

July 25, 2011|By GRANT MEECH | KWCH 12 Eyewitness Sports

WICHITA, Kan. — It's been years since every seat at Cessna Stadium has been full.

But with the National Junior Olympics in town this week, that place will be rocking for the next six days.

"This meet is two or three times the state track meet and it lasts six days, so this means some long days but in the end I think it will be worth it," said John Wise, assistant track coach for Wichita State.

Over 7,000 athletes from ages eight to 18 will descend into Wichita to prove they are the best against the best in the country.

"When you watch the Olympics in 2016 and 2020 and the teams that the United States are putting out, there are probably several athletes on that team that will compete right here this week. This is the national championship for youth track and field."

So to get ready for everyone, Cessna Stadium is putting up some big improvements. A warmup area has been added to the northeast parking lot and the track surface is less than a year old. An athletes village has been added to the south, but most importantly air conditioning is flowing in the press box.

"We are at 30 days of over 100 degrees in Wichita," said Mark Schwarm, director of competition of the United State Track and Field Association. "We are all prepared for it and this isn't our first hot track meet."

Unfortunately the cool air isn't for the spectators but thats the not the reason they came.

"These are the best track and field athletes at every age level," said Wise. "You are going to see kids doing some unbelievable things at an early age and they have all come here this week."

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