Dickinson High and Dickinson Trinity's track and field teams have been waiting patiently for two years for what will happen today.
The schools will get their first home track meet in that time period with the Carlson Booster meet at Huffman Track at the Badlands Activities Center.
The first field events start at 9:30 a.m. and the first track event starts at 11 a.m.
"The kids and the coaches are extremely excited," Dickinson High co-head coach Dave Michaelson said.
With a top-of-the-line track, it's hard to underestimate Michaelson's, his coaches or his athletes' excitement in competing at a brand-new facility.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Arguably it could be the best track in the state," Michaelson said.
Trinity head coach Craig Kovash said competing on Huffman Track for the first time is a thrill for members of the team.
"This will be a nice experience for kids and coaches," Kovash said. "It's a nice track and it's a fast track. Our kids are excited to run on it for the first time."
Michaelson said that while the Bismarck Community Bowl offers more seating and working areas for the press, the track and the field event areas at Huffman Track are second to none.
That being said, the meet won't be a time to coast as there is work to be done to qualify for state, or just improve on times.
The track should be fast due to its surface and because the front stretch is protected from westerly winds.
"I think it's going to be a fast track, but we'll have to wait and see," Michaelson said.
With plenty of chances to qualify for state, Michaelson said this is the time to get that task out of the way.
ADVERTISEMENT
"That's what it's all about," Michaelson said. "When you get to the regionals, you'd like to have most of your kids qualify. You'll get a few placed in the regional, but this should give us a good opportunity."
Kovash also wants his athletes to qualify, with the Carlson Booster being the Titans second meet of the season.
Trinity qualified a couple of runners at the Hazen Charger, and Kovash is looking for a few more to qualify today. He said that qualifying for some events can go into May.
"Some of the longer events take more time and eventually they'll fall into place," Kovash said.
Despite not hosting a home meet last year, the demolition of the old Whitney Stadium and construction of the Badlands Activities Center didn't affect the Midgets in 2009 like it would have in other years.
"With no home meets last year, we knew it was a sacrifice," Michaelson said. "It actually lent itself for a season where we didn't have a home meet, because we would have probably cancelled one of those anyway."
