49th Annual Meet Showcases Rockland Track and Field

The 49th annual Nanuet Relays track and field meet is coming up April 9.

This prestigious meet hosts more than 1,000 athletes and has about 130 volunteers and 15 officials who work for little compensation. Entry fees and sponsors have made it one of the quality events in the metropolitan area, officials said.

The basic concept of the meet has not changed since its inception.

The event was started by Dick Teetsel (Albertus Magnus and later, Nanuet) and Dave Hanson (Nanuet) in 1968 to foster quality track and field in Rockland County.

The original directors enlisted the Nanuet Public Schools and the Nanuet Black and Gold Club (a booster club for all sports at Nanuet High School) for support of this worthwhile event, officials said.

One of the major drawbacks of the meet was that it was initially only a boys' meet. In 1979, Hanson enlisted the Pearl River Elks to sponsor a meet of the same caliber for girls from the metropolitan area. In 1985, the Nanuet Relays and the Elks Relays were combined into one great meet.

When all bills are paid, any monies that are remaining go to the Nanuet Black and Gold Club Scholarship Fund and are given to several student/athletes each year in the form of a grant.

The 49th annual Nanuet Relays will be held April 9, 2016 at Nanuet High School beginning at 9 AM. The meet directors are Sheri Dempsey and Larry Beckerle. Greg Mooney is responsible for organizing the Black and Gold concession stands for the meet.

PHOTO/contributed