58th EMU Huron Relays

Huron Relays ready for 'fresh start'

If you had asked coaches after last year's Huron Relays meet came to an end at 11:00 at night, most of them would have sworn they were never coming back. For good reason, last year I showed up at 7am, and didn't leave until each and every coach had their medals and had left the parking lot. Fifteen hours spent at one indoor track meet is tough on anybody, even an avid track fan such as myself. But I particularly felt bad for any freshman that happened to be running in their first track meet, their parents in the stands thinking, "Is this seriously what I signed up for twice a week for the next 8 weeks?!" For all those athletes and parents that were willing to stick with the sport, thank you. For anyone we lost, I'm sorry.

However, give EMU some credit. They listened; they changed it back to a 2-day meet, like it was for the first 56 years, and hopefully like it will be for years 58 and on. This is a legendary meet named after Kermit Ambrose, the most popular track name you'll ever hear in the state of Michigan. If you don't know who he is, ask any official at any meet you go to. Make sure you have at least an hour though, because they will have stories upon stories to tell you.

There isn't a person in the state that wants to see the Huron Relays come to an end, and from what I've heard after Day 1, Eastern Michigan has done a fantastic job of keeping things going. We will be there tomorrow tweeting and keeping everyone up-to-date with what's going on. But if you aren't doing anything, how about you come to Ypsilanti and watch the meet in person; it promises to be a good one!