While the United Age Group Track Coaches Association Youth Invitational is by no means the Granddaddy of Youth Invitational meets, it is quickly rising in the ranks. The three year old summer Invitational is gaining recognition as a well organized, talent laden event that has produced some of the best prep times and marks annually recorded. The meet which, in the past, has drawn primarily from the sprint rich northeast corridor is branching out. Last year we had Planned Participants from as far away as Canada, Jamaica and entries from Bermuda. They did not come that far for the 'Cheese Steaks'. The meet is gaining a well deserved reputation for being logistically sound and very youth friendly.
Philadelphia has long been an excellent tourist friendly city; especially around the 4th of July holiday. Runners now have an additional reason to come to the City of Brotherly Love in July. Philadelphia is a well respected Mecca for track & field. We’ve produced more than our share of Olympians and other track & field greats. When you compete in Philly you’re likely to face some of the best athletes in the nation. You come for the competition and stay for the fun. The UAGTCA Invitational offers a unique opportunity for runners to feed their passion for the sport as well as satisfy their desire for an exciting and fun filled vacation. Athletes and their families will have many opportunities to visit the host of historical and other attractions this fabulous city has to offer because the meet offers a reliable schedule that has run traditionally on time and on many occasions slightly ahead of schedule (never more than 1 hour).
We are proud to have received the support of the Comcast Corporation, Youth Runner Magazine, Dick’s Sporting Goods, PennTrackXC, TrackMom.com and Boathouse Sports. The UAGI Games Committee has worked hard for their support and we want to demonstrate that we are worthy of their continued involvement.
The UAGTCA Invitational has grown in size and stature each year since its inception and we are proud of the fact that we continue to receive high praise for the conduct of the event. By popular demand in 2008 we added the Race Walk to our list of contested events. We believe that it was one of the final links to making the UAGI one of the most complete summer Invitationals.
We want everyone to get on board and help us continue to make this meet one of the best competition decisions of your summer. A Youth Meet conducted by Youth people who know Youth athletes.
We will, in short, do everything that we can to make your experience at the UAGI enjoyable, memorable and truly worthwhile.
The UAGI Games Committee
Widener University's Athletic Complex is one of the most complete facilities in the Philadelphia Area. With an external field event complex spectators will have an up close viewing area and access to the competition. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that the competition venues are certified for record performances and athletes can feel equally confident that their performance will be given full consideration by all certifying organizations. Only 1/4 inch or shorter pin spikes may be used on the track.
Admission to the complex is free of charge throughout the competition. There are several parking areas surrounding the complex and parking in those lots is also free of charge. There is one parking area, however, that is reserved for competition officials and meet personnel. You are not permitted in that area without proper credentials. Violators will be fined and towed. Access to the Check-in area is near to the stadium entrance. Only athletes and coaches are allowed to access this area. Signs are posted throughout the complex.
There will be an information desk located on the mezzanine level of the stadium to answer general questions about the meet. You can pick up reserved program books as well as purchase program books for the meet. All official protests must be filed at this location and noted by the table personnel. The Information desk will also be the point for lost & found articles
Anyone requiring PRESS CREDENTIALS please contact Leslie Stokes, Media Coordinator for Press & Photographer credentials via e-mail at least one week prior to the meet. Every attempt will be made to honor your request. No one is permitted in the competition area without appropriate credentials. Contact Leslie at the meet via the information Table to secure your credentials.
Implements
Only the Batons and starting blocks supplied by the meet may be used. No personal batons or starting blocks will be permitted. The use of starting blocks will be in accordance with USATF rule 302.2.d. Meet supplied field event implements will be available. Personal implements that comply with the required specifications may also be used, subject to a loss of identity during the competition. All Personal implements will be weighed & measured prior to the competition. Personal javelins are exempt from the loss of identity rule. All vaulters must bring their own poles. No poles will be supplied by meet management. Please follow the posted signs to get to the weights & Measures center
Turbo-Javelin, High Jump and Long Jump Competition
The Turbo-Javelin competition is held on the stadium infield while the High Jump and Long Jump are held at venues adjacent to the infield. Only active competing athletes are permitted in the competition area. Warm-ups are allowed 1/2 hour before the event is scheduled to begin. A final time schedule will be posted on this web site when all entries are received. The Bantam & Sub-Bantam Long Jump will be held in the Field House adjacent to the stadium.
Spectators are welcome to observe the shot put competition. The Shot Put Area is located immediately off the perimeter path leading to the stadium.
The Discus & Javelin, except for the Turbo-Javelin which is conducted on the infield, are held at their venues located immediately off the perimeter path leading to the stadium. The area is opened to spectators but there are no stands available during the competition. Please observe the flagging and use extreme caution when going to and from the area. The Javelin has a tartan runway and the Discus Pad is brushed concrete. Appropriate footwear should be considered.
Only competitors are allowed in the pole vault area. (There is a small area for viewing outside the fence surrounding the pole vault runways.) In the event of inclement weather the Pole Vault competition will be held in the Field House.
Warm-up for all running, walking & hurdle events should take place in the designated warm-up area. The primary warm-up area is directly in front of the clerking station on the outside of the stadium. Athletes should be aware of the discus and javelin competitions that may be in progress on the fields that are near the designated warm-up area. Please take care travelling to and from these areas during the Discus & Javelin competitions.
The Clerking tent is located behind the mezzanine level entrance across from the registration area. Every attempt will be made to make announcements for upcoming events via the public address system . However, actual event clerk-in calls are made at the clerking tent and it is the sole responsibility of the athlete to monitor the events on the track and the calls being made at the clerking tent. Please report on the first call whenever possible. The area directly in front of the Clerking tent is adequate for warm-up exercises and hurdle preparation. All field events are checked in at their venue.
The main medical tent is located adjacent to the clerking area. Additionally, there will be a tent near the finish line. These tents are manned by certified athletic trainers from Temple University and are designed to address basic competition injuries and render first aid in case of emergency. There are several Hospital emergency centers within minutes of the complex in the event of more serious injury. Free Bottled water will be available to all active athletes throughout the competition. A uniform and a meet issued Competition number will be required.
The mezzanine level of the stadium complex is set up as a vending and concession area. No spectator chairs, tents or motorized vehicles are permitted in this area at any time during the competition. The vending area has a wide variety of track & field paraphernalia available for sale.
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