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Saturday, April 23, 2005
Distance Festival canceled for second straight year
Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||
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BRUNSWICK — The stately grandstand at Bowdoin's Whittier Field will remain empty over the July 4 weekend for a second straight year. A track resurfacing project has forced cancellation of the Maine Distance Festival, raising questions about the fate of the elite level meet for 2006. Longtime organizer Steve Podgajny said he and co-director Peter Slovenski will meet this summer to discuss the event's future. "Since the cancellation of the meet (last year) I've heard from a number of athletes who lament its interruption," said Podgajny. "The new surface is certainly an asset that could be applied to the meet. We've bought some more time to think about (what direction to go in.)" Podgajny was unsure exactly when he and Slovenski will meet but said it would be the first step toward determining the meet's future. "The first step is for (Peter and I) and others closely associated to determine if there is a really strong interest in bringing the meet back in 2006," said Podgajny. "If the decision is to pursue it formally, at that point we would start discussing funding and sponsoring options." The festival was canceled last summer when plans fell through for a Boston area sports management company to run the meet. First run in 1994, it is one of the state's few events that draws a national field of athletes. Through the years, the meet has featured several remarkable races: U.S. Olympian Regina Jacobs set an American record in the 5,000 meters in 1998, and Kennebunk's Erik Nedeau attempted to be the first runner to break 4 minutes in the mile in Maine. The meet's atmosphere was legendary. Tall pines tower around the field, and spectators packed the grandstand ringing cowbells into the twilight. "There is a large and enthusiastic running community in New England," said Slovenski, Bowdoin's track coach. "The Distance Festival was an innovative meet that was admired and appreciated by both the running community and the general public. Runners and less experienced spectators could tell they were watching remarkable competition." The meet welcomed elite national runners and top level high school runners. "It was a very important meet for our high schoolers," said Podgajny. "It led to a lot of terrific marks and was an important meet on the national level." The track improvements are expected to begin in June and last most of the summer. Plans were finalized this winter for Nike to invest $300,000 toward the track's refurbishment. It is part of an agreement to allow the Freeport High School track teams to use the facility for the next 20 years. The track will get a new surface, high jump apron and run-up to the steeplechase. Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:
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