Shocked. Surprised. Puzzled.
All of those words could accurately describe the emotions of Humble ISD athletic director Troy Kite on the morning of Feb. 1 — the day the University Interscholastic League unveiled its biennial reclassification and realignment for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.
The shock stemmed from the fact that the UIL placed Atascocita and Kingwood, the district's two Class 5A schools, in Region II, leading Kite to one unwanted conclusion — that Humble ISD and Turner Stadium would cease to host the Class 5A Region III and Class 3A Region III track and field championships since the district would have no teams participating.
Kite's first thought was to wonder what the district had done wrong.
It turned out nothing — the move was simply geographic and, despite rumors to the contrary, Turner Stadium would continue to serve as the Region III-5A and Region III-3A track and field meet host for the foreseeable future, Kite confirmed Monday.
“For us to be able to keep it even though we don't have any (participating) kids in it, I think for (assistant athletic director) Krista (Malmstrom) and I, that says that we're running it the right way,” Kite said.
Moreover, Humble ISD will get to showcase Turner Stadium, which is undergoing renovations. The $19.9 million project includes a new fieldhouse, new two-story press box, new concession and restroom facilities, new grandstands and new ticket booths.
Most notable to track and field coaches will be the installation of a new state-of-the-art track surface. The surface was put in by Beynon Sports Surfaces, which has done tracks at dozens of universities including Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium, where the state meet is held. Kite said his goal was to have the surface mirror that at Myers, so that athletes are familiar with the type of surface they will see at the state meet.
“We feel like we have the total package,” Kite said. “For track and field, we believe it will be one of the top two or three high school facilities in the entire state and probably the nicest in the Houston area.”
Several coaches said they are pleased with the job Humble ISD does hosting the regional meet and its commitment to track and field.
“They do a tremendous job,” Hightower coach David Pollack said. “All the athletes and coaches are treated well and are well-provided for. You always want your athletes to feel comfortable because if they're not, they might tighten up and not perform well. When you can get the experience to replicate what it's going to be like in Austin, it gives our kids a tremendous advantage over the rest.”
The biggest benefit provided by the stadium renovations — which will be completed in August in time for football season — will be realized in 2012 when Turner Stadium will be the host facility for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics track and field events. That event draws between 9,000-11,000 athletes and is the largest multisport event conducted annually for youths.
And while the stadium renovation is coming together, it has been far from perfect. There have been periodic delays, the visiting grandstands were not ready in time for the regional meet, as Kite had hoped, and the construction has made for some minor inconveniences for those trying to navigate the facility. Still, there have been few complaints.
“I wouldn't want to move the meet anywhere else,” Spring Branch ISD athletic director L.P. Jones said. “Even with the construction headaches, they still were ready. They're very professional and you couldn't ask for anything better.”
Kite said the entire district — from the superintendent to the principals to the coaches — is committed to the regional meet. That has helped make it an annual success and a big reason the UIL will keep it there in the future.
“They're a special group,” UIL athletic director Cliff Odenwald said. “Troy and the entire Humble ISD has been committed to running a first-class regional meet. Traci Neely and Sheila Henderson — our directors in charge of track and field — visited, and they said it's first class. They treat all the coaches and students with utmost respect.
“It says something about their commitment to hosting a regional when their schools moved to Region II and they continue to host. It's one of our best-run meets in the entire state.”
