60th Butler Invitational: What to know as 90 track and field teams descend on Art Bernardi Stadium
The Butler Track and Field Invitational has been a staple in the local spring high school sports scene for six decades, but it has reached another level in recent years.
“Up until about 12 or 13 years ago, we had about 30 schools attending,” said Butler girls coach John Williams, who serves as meet director. “But the meet has grown so much since then. Last year, we had 93 schools participate, and there will be 90 this year. We don’t turn any athletes away.”
“Mike (Seybert, Butler boys coach) and I know a lot of people in the track community. Coaches know that when they bring their kids here, we keep things moving and they feel welcome.”
The 60th annual Butler Invite is scheduled Thursday on the campus of Butler High School. Except for 2020, when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the spring season, boys have convened for the meet every year since 1965. The girls meet began in 2002.
This year’s invite is expected to include nearly 2,000 athletes. Having a meet of that size run smoothly requires people with experience coordinating the events.
Seybert serves as Clerk of the Course, making sure competitors in the boys track events are registered and are where they need to be leading up to their event. Fred Pinto, a Butler assistant coach, does likewise with the girls.
“I make sure the runners are two seconds from stepping on the track as the previous event is finishing up,” Seybert said. “We receive scratches from coaches by a certain time so that there are no empty lanes, and we put kids in heats according to their ability. If these things are not done properly, it adds time to the length of the meet. But we’ve been doing this for so long, we’re very organized.”
As host of the meet, Butler relies on its bevy of assistants.
“All of them have some role, including running the field events. Each one of those takes three-and-a-half hours at this invite,” Williams said. “It’s a labor of love for our coaches to make this thing happen.”
Action is scheduled to begin in the field and on the track with the 4x800-meter relay at 11 a.m, followed by prelims for the 100 dash and 110/100 hurdles. Track finals, comprised of multiple heats in several events, are scheduled to begin at approximately 4 p.m.
“If all goes well, we should be wrapping up at 10 p.m.,” Seybert said.
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