March 2017 USATF Junior Olympics Monthly Summary

The 2017 Junior Olympics Comprehensive Meet Schedule has been released and posted on the USATF website. This action has reduced the inquiries that the Lawrence Sports Corporation (LSC) was receiving on a daily basis. The qualifying marks for the multi events and starting heights for pole vault and high jump have also been released and posted—also reducing the number inquiries.

We have signed vendor agreements with Agogie and Eugenius, both running performance/training aids retailers, and Advanced Engraving. Advanced Engraving will engrave the name of the athlete and his or her event on back of the award medals.  

I continue to meet with potential in-kind sponsors to request support with the hope of enhancing the JO experience for the athletes and parents. 

Based upon feedback from potential advertisers we determined that a JO Souvenir Program was feasible. This program would include, along with other content, the names of all entries by event, current JO performance records, schedule of events and venue information.

After meeting with area Destination Management and Entertainment Organizations to discuss possible attractions for JO attendees outside of competition, an event with the KC T-Bones is now in the works.

The T-Bones are creating a USATF night at their ballpark and offering discounted tickets to JO attendees, along with a suite for USATF representatives.

The back end of the Griffith Payments/Harbortouch portal has been completed and is ready to go live. This will allow the LSC to offer online sale of JO tickets before and during the Junior Olympics. Lawrence will be the first JO host city to offer the convenience of online ticket sales.

As mentioned in last month’s summary, the LSC will host the final JO site visit on April 24. Both the USATF National Office and the USATF National Youth Committee will send five-member teams. The site team will review the LSC’s operation plan, focusing on security, medical services, and the efficiency of our procedures for moving athletes from the warm-up area to check-in and ultimately to the starting line.

I’m working with Scott McCollough and other City staff members to determine whether an acceptable temporary parking plan on the Mercato property can be worked out. If successful, this plan would allow an additional 300 cars to be parked near Rock Chalk Park.

I learned Monday night that Hershey will be the presenting sponsor for this year’s Junior Olympics. Hershey/USATF will make a formal announcement within the next day or two. As a result of the sponsorship, the 2017 Junior Olympics will be the only outdoor youth championship offered this year by USATF. Hershey will provide the "Hershey Experience,” which historically has consisted free USATF Nike backpacks and

Hershey One Sweet Celebration pins for all athletes, as well as custom rings for top finishers in all events. Hershey also will host a Friday-night cookout for athletes, coaches, officials and their families featuring a DJ, carnival games and a Run-Jump-Throw station that showcases USATF and Hershey’s national youth activity programs. We will soon learn exactly what this year’s Hershey Experience will entail. 

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Sanner

Lawrence Sports Corporation