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Off and running

City, NCAA event a good fit

May 22, 2009
By Brad Bauer, The Marietta Times and Dave Payne Sr., Special to The Times
The Pioneer City is making a positive impression on the crowds in town for the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which got under way Thursday at Marietta College.

A total of 688 student-athletes will compete in the championship, which runs through Saturday. About 3,000 people are expected to file into the city for the games.

“Everyone we’ve talked to at this point has been extremely positive,” said Tom Perry, director of college relations at Marietta College. “The athletes are walking around, checking things out and commenting that this isn’t what they were expecting. They were expecting something a lot older.”

In recent years, the college made improvements to Don Drumm Stadium, including a new track surface. The school also built the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center, which includes an indoor track and fitness rooms.

“Dyson Baudo is serving as a warm-up area for the athletes,” Perry said. “We had a dinner/reception there last night, but now it’s just a place where athletes can go and get ready for their event.”

Athlete Curt Jones, 22, of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., said he had participated in a few events at Marietta in the past.

“They were indoor events, so we never got to get out and explore,” Jones said. “Everything looks really good. There’s a lot more to the town than I knew.”

Athlete Colby Citrowske, 20, of Gustavus Adolph College in St. Peter, Minn., was spending time racing sugar gum tree pods in Goose Run as a crowd of other athletes cheered on their favorite. Citrowske said it was a way to calm nerves before his relay, set for later Thursday.

“I haven’t gone out and explored, but I checked out the track and campus. It’s really nice,” Citrowske said. “We’re all just trying to relax and get in race mode.”

Student-athletes qualified for the championship by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event.

Daniel Joseph, 61, of Pittsford, N.Y., said the track and field events were the reason for his family’s first visit to Marietta. He and his wife, Mary, were awaiting the start of their son, Matthew’s, decathlon event on Thursday afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium.

“So far it’s been a pretty nice stop,” Daniel Joseph said. “Tonight (Thursday) we’re going to go down to the levee and have dinner.”

Tom and Vicki DeCarbo, of Pittsburgh, were in town to watch their niece participate over the weekend.

“She goes to college near Chicago and we don’t get to see her much, so this was a good chance to come and see her,” Vicki DeCarbo said. “It’s only a couple hours away and we had wanted to visit Marietta, anyway. We have driven by, but never had time to stop and see all the sights.”

Marietta College Campus Police were out in force Thursday afternoon to ensure safe crossing for pedestrians near the stadium.

Marietta police Capt. Jeff Waite said his officers would be available to direct traffic if there were any problems in the area, but as of Thursday afternoon there had been no issues, he said.

Article Photos

MITCH CASEY The Marietta Times
Spectators line the fence Thursday to watch qualifying heats of the men’s 4X100 during the opening day of the NCAA Division III Track and Field 2009 Outdoor Championships at Don Drumm Stadium.

Fact Box

Today’s highlights
¯ Events start at 11 a.m., with finals today including women’s pole vault, men’s discus and men’s and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
¯ Youth Olympics — Food and games for children ages 6 to 13. Registration begins at 7 p.m. with the 60-yard dash, high jump, broad jump, and softball/shot throw starting at 8.
¯ Fireworks — 9:15 p.m.

 
 

 

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