Dale Bahr Awarded Hershey’s Track & Field Local Programming Award

St. Peter, Minn. – Gustavus Adolphus Head Track and Field Coach Dale Bahr has been awarded the Hershey’s Track and Field Local Programming Award by Deb Weinreis, the Hershey’s Track & Field State & Regional Chair under the Minnesota Recreation & Park Association.

Last summer, the Minnesota Recreation & Park Association was in need of a host site for its annual State Hershey’s Track and Field Meet due to unexpected complications with the original venue. Bahr and his wife, Heidi, graciously stepped in and offered their services in hosting the meet on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College.  The transition was made and the 2012 Minnesota State Hershey’s Track and Field competition was held at the College on Saturday, June 23rd.

“We saw it as an opportunity to bring a great event put on by a great organization to our campus,” said Bahr.  “Under such short notice, it’s amazing how smooth the meet ran – it was truly a team effort.  Volunteers from both the Gustavus and St. Peter communities really stepped up to make this event special.  We are grateful for all the support from the local businesses, student-athletes, St. Peter Recreation Department, and Gustavus for being such a gracious host.”

Deb Weinreis commended Dale and Heidi on their leadership in making the meet possible, thanking both them and Gustavus.  “Their enthusiasm for the program and overall organization was amazing  – especially for the first time hosting a Hershey meet,” said Weinreis.

“It was especially impressive for the over 300 participants who had a chance to compete at the facility and enjoy St. Peter.  From the initial registration to the presentation of awards, no detail was left out.  It was a pleasure to work with coach Bahr and his staff and we look forward to the second year of Gustavus hosting the state meet.”

Because of the success of last summer’s event, Gustavus has been selected to host the Minnesota State Hershey’s Track and Field Meet once again this upcoming summer.  The daylong competition is set to take place on Saturday, June 22nd at the Gustie Outdoor Track and Field Complex.

For more than 30 years, the Hershey’s Track & Field Games program for 9-14 year olds has encouraged children in communities throughout North America to get involved with track & field.  The Hershey’s Track & Field Games are the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America, with hundreds of thousands of children competing every year. Everyone has a chance to be among the 480 athletes who qualify to compete at the North American Final. The program has produced many Olympic medalists and competing athletes.