28 teams signed up already for 9th annual event

For the first time, the Undeberg Invite will be held on its home track, rather than in Medical Lake or elsewhere. The event is set for Saturday, April 26. Field events will begin at 11 a.m. and running events at 11:45 a.m.

The plan is to hold the event annually in the future on the last Saturday of April.

The enormous high school track meet, hosted by Lind-Ritzville Schools, is popular with the region’s high schools and attracts hundreds of athletes, coaches, family members and spectators.

The completion of the all-weather track facility at Lind-Ritzville High School’s Jimmie Snider Field will finally make it possible for that event to be conducted on its home turf, while supporting local businesses.

Athletic Director Greg Whitmore has been actively planning and recruiting track teams, volunteers and an advisory committee. After a couple of advisory committee meetings, the group is charging forward with a mountain of tasks in hopes of attracting the largest number of athletes for the memorial event in its nine year history.

Ritzville long held a major track invitational. Originally it was known as the Ritzville Invitational, which ceased around the late 1980s early 1990s, according to Whitmore, due to the track’s deterioration.

A partnership was then formed with Reardan to host the R&R Invitational, which was done at a variety of locations, including Whitworth and University High School.

Nine years ago, the major track meet was renamed in honor of Harold Undeberg. Last year the event registered 688 athletes.

Whitmore is excited about the prospect of bringing the meet to Ritzville and said there has been outstanding response to his invitations from track teams. To date, there are already 28 teams signed up, the same number as last year. Between now and race day, Whitmore expects more and said there is room to grow the event, if there is a significant increase in participants.

The roster of teams includes more 1A and 2A Division schools than in the past. The upper division and 3A and 4A schools are not invited.

Ten of the teams already registered are new to the event, including two from the west side of the state and one from Idaho: Seattle Academy, La Conner and Lapwei, Idaho.

Whitmore and the Underberg Invite committee have one goal in mind: “To make this the biggest and best track meet in the state on this day,” Whitmore wrote in his notes.

According to the school’s veteran coach and athletic director, he sees this as a great opportunity for the school and the community. A successful event means coaches and athletes will eagerly return year after year.

“We want people coming to our town,” Whitmore said. “We want to grow this back to the size of the Ritzville Invitational days. If we have the reputation of being the best, they will come back year after year. When you bring that many people there’s going to be money spent in our town.”

Whitmore said track meets offer a unique opportunity for parents and spectators, different from most sporting events. A track athlete usually participates in several events spread throughout the course of the day. This creates pockets of time for folks to wander away from the track and explore the rest of Ritzville, and its businesses and amenities.

“The uniqueness of track is there’s down time,” Whitmore said. “If it can benefit our businesses we want that to happen.”

The planning committee is thinking outside of the box. The task list includes recruiting track related vendors, obtaining some corporate sponsors to ensure long term sustainability of a major track meet and fund facility upgrades. There is also a plan in place for an impressive hospitality room for coaches and volunteers, to make the event as user friendly as possible for those who are working through the entire day.

“Coaches know the meets with the best food,” Whitmore said with a smile.

The most important task is running a well-organized track meet. A new timing system is in hand and Whitmore said it will play a major role in streamlining the computerized tracking of event times and distances.

With a $5,000 donation from Project 56 and $1,000 from Bronc Boosters, Whitmore has ordered 80 new hurdles, which will arrive in time for the meet.

Over the long term, Whitmore said the high jump pads and pole vault pads will need to be replaced or refurbished. Both are high ticket items. He also said he wants to start setting aside funds immediately to prepare for the resurfacing of the all-weather track when that becomes necessary in 10 to 12 years.

“We’d like to put away about $10,000 a year to help with the track,” he said.

Whitmore said the Undeberg Invite will serve as a way to give back to the community and the businesses that regularly support schools and student athletes.

“I know how supportive this community is and how often every business gets asked for contributions,” he said. “This is our opportunity to bring in a large number of people. We want everyone to go downtown. Any business that wants to be involved or needs more information can contact me. We know the visitors will see the freeway businesses. We want them to see downtown too.”

Volunteers are also needed to help monitor events, particpate in set up and tear down, and parking. Anyone interested in lending a hand should contact Whitmore are Lind-Ritzville High School at 659-1720 or via email at [email protected].