RECREATION
UH-Manoa's track facility open for all-comers meets

Participants go all out during the 1,000 meters at a recent Hawai'i at Sunset all-comer's track meet at the University of Hawai'i's Cooke Field. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Casey McGuire-Turcotte
Special to The Advertiser

The University of Hawai'i track and field program has big plans for newly renovated Cooke Field in Manoa.

•

Track Facts • What: University of Hawai'i Sunset Series • When: Thursday March 13; Wednesdays April 9, 23, 30, May 7, 21, and June 4. • Where: UH Cooke Field • Fee: $2 per event; $5 for three events (no fee for spectators) • Contact: UH coach Carmyn James 956-2143 or carmyn@hawaii.edu • Information: Meet schedules are available at the Running Room on Kapahulu and at the University of Hawai'i track office.

But before any of that happens, it's your turn to run on the rainbow.

Since January, the UH track program has hosted a series of all-comers meets — track events open to the community for athletes of all ages and ability levels. The evening meets, called the Hawai'i Sunset Series, offer a chance for the communityÊ to experience the $1.7 million facility, its rainbow-hued layout, and the sport of track and field.

A meet is held every other week. (The next one is Thursday, then picks up again on Wednesdays from April through June.) Field events begin at 5:30 p.m. and running events at 6:30. There is an entry fee of $2 per event or $5 for three events. There is no fee for spectators.

A selection of traditional events (such as the high jump and steeplechase) as well as non-traditional ones (such as the coconut toss and 40-yard football dash) are available. There usually are about 120 competitors at each meet, including the University of Hawai'i track team.

Farley Simon, a Marine Corps runner and current FILA Hawai'i head coach, said the meets help to break down age-group barriers that are so common in most running formats.

Michelle Le, left, and Kira Lee, members of the University of Hawai'i track team, compete in the 60-meter hurdles. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Lionel Low, a member of the Hawai'i Masters Track Club, is a longtime marathoner who regularly competes in road races and masters track meets.

"I'm glad to see a meet like this finally come to O'ahu," he said. "There's so much camaraderie, friendship, and now those young kids can see us old guys can still do this."

Mike Anderson, the swim coach at UH, brought sons Tanner, 7, and Bowin, 6, to the meet for the first time a few weeks ago.

"This is a great event for the kids," Anderson said. "It exposes them to the sport of track and field, and at the same time gives the community a chance to support the new UH program."

UH athletes Shawna Kawasaki, left, Leonie Sugai, top, and Novelle Murray stretch before one of the track meets. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Now local kids have a chance to see how far they can take this sport," he said. "Just like football, basketball, baseball and soccer players, track and field athletes now have the chance to stay home and compete in front of their friends and family. A lot of them didn't know they had that opportunity before now."

Jenna Yancey, a triathlete who ran middle distance at Auburn University, grew up doing all-comers meets. She said the events encourage an active lifestyle.

"It really builds a sense of community to come out here and experience exercise with people," she said. "Working out always feels less like work when you're doing it with a group."