The state co-ed track meet turns ten years old this week and organizers says it is a tradition that will continue. Prior to 2005, the  Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union held their state meets on separate weekends. That all changed in 2005 and the Iowa High School Championships has become one of the biggest track meets in the country. Dave Anderson of the IAHSAA, says merging the two meets was discussed for a few years before it actually happened. Anderson says the meet has been so successful there is no chance of returning to the old format.

This weeks meet will be the final one for Anderson who is retiring on June 30th after 25 years with the Association. Mike Dick, executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, says the state meet is a cooperative effort between the two governing bodies. Dick says the coed meet has been more successul than he had hoped it would be, and he sees the format continuing into the future.

The first of three days of competition at Drake Stadium begins this (Thursday) morning with action in Class 1A and 4A.

(Radio Iowa)