Track and field: Organizers of Cepero meet expect strong turnout

Ratliff Stadium is relatively quiet these days.

High school football teams are playing 7-on-7. Visitors drop by every once in awhile.

But this weekend Ratliff Stadium will be buzzing with the 5th annual Dr. Dan Cepero Memorial Track and Field Meet, which begins at 5 p.m. today and continues at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Registration figures sent to the Odessa American on Wednesday listed 285 registered competitors.

That figure may have grown.

With the opening night of meet drawing closer this week, teams kept calling meet director Stella Neboh to register for the meet.

"Everybody keeps coming our way," Neboh said. "That tells us we're doing something right for the kids."

Neboh had no trouble finding competitors a year ago.

Because of a problem with the Region 9 meet last year, the Cepero meet became an AAU qualifier to the Junior Olympics.

Those problems have been fixed, and the Cepero meet is no longer a one-stop shop to reach the AAU Junior Olympics.

Coupled with the fact that a national qualifiers meet is being held at Abilene Christian University this weekend, the Cepero meet might have faced a small turnout.

But in its fifth year of existence, the meet has built a reputation. Four seniors will receive $1,500 scholarships, and according to Neboh, a fifth scholarship will provide $1,000.

"This year they have another AAU qualifying meet going on the same day, at the same time," Neboh said. "And people are still coming out."

Teams from all over West Texas will be competing.

For those teams, the Cepero meet offers their athletes a chance to compete and get ready for the USATF Championships, a competing organization to the AAU meet.

"It provides an avenue for the youth to compete and to train toward the Junior Olympics," said Midland Crusaders coach Tony Goyang, who is preparing his team to compete in the Region XII USATF Championships in Houston. "It's one of the meets we attend in order to get prepared for regionals."

Goyang's athletes should have plenty of competition.

THE BASICS

>> What: 5th annual Dan Cepero Memorial Track and Field Meet.

>> When: 5 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. Saturday.

>> Where: Ratliff Stadium.

>> Age Divisions: Primary (2001); Sub-bantam (2000); Bantam (1999); Sub-midget (1998); Midget (1997); Sub-youth (1996); Youth (1995); Intermediate (1993-1994); Young (1991-1992).

>> Note: Athletes are placed in age divisions based on year of birth.

>> Prizes: Four $1,500 scholarships awarded to graduating seniors; One $1,000 scholarship awarded to graduating senior.