State Games of America Ippel "Wins" Silver

This is the worst meet I've ever been to, they ran the meet an entire DAY ahead of schedule...

I busted my ass training for this meet, and got new shoes, and spent $550.00 for a hotel for two nights, flight and rental car...but before I did that (3 WEEKS BEFORE!!!) I emailed track@stategames.org(I'm sure they would love to hear your comments) and below you will find the text


Pete,

That is correct, the finals for your division will be on Sunday. If you have
any more questions please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thanks and
we look forward to seeing you at the games.

Brad Rosa
State Games Outreach Director

-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Ippel
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 11:48 AM
To: track@stategames.org
Subject: double checking event times

Greetings, I will be competing in the 19-29 age group high jump.

I want to make sure the finals are on Sunday the 31st of July, I found the
schedule on the website to be a bit confusing.

Thank you,
Pete Ippel

So I fly to Denver on Sat *after* I do move out at my job, and then get the rental, drive to my hotel, go for a swim and hit the sack by 10:30 because I have to get up at 5 am (which is actually 4 am because of the hour time change). I wake up the next morning feeling great, drive the 1.5 hours down from Denver to Colorado Springs, and get to Air Force Academy. Finally I find the track and NO ONE is there...hardly anyone is warming up. Naturally I think that I am just too early, the women *were* scheduled to jump first. I walked up to the official and asked "'Scuse me sir, when are the 19-29 Men's Finals for the High jump?"


He replies "Oh, we ran those yesterday."


My jaw about hit the floor, and I was pissed and sad at the same time, because I really, REALLY wanted to compete, so I said that I wanted to jump anyway, and got warmed up for a 9:30 start time.

When asked about why they ran it a day earlier when they had it on the schedule that it was SUNDAY I will never know. They cited "Lack of Communication"

DUH!

Needless to say, once I got into comp mode, everything dropped away (another reason I love competing, I have solace from the outside world) and I jumped ok, all things considered. I got out of there as fast as I could when I was finished, to go walk in the mountains, as being from Illinois (and Pell knows this too) we never see 'em.


I would like to note, that the people actually OFFICIATING the meet were very apologetic, and gave me "what I would have had" if I was there the day before, though I know I wouldn't have gotten second on MISSES!





Below is a copy of the rather scathing email I sent them


To:
Executive Director
Steve Kearney

I am the all-time Cornell University High Jump Record holder, and the three time champion in the State Games of America High jump for ages 19-29 as well as a multiple medal winner in State Games in 3 States (Illinois, New York, California)...I was very excited this year to learn that the SGA would be held closer to my home state of California, and after a two year hiatus from SGA competition I was hungry to defend my title.

I do not recommend having the games in Colorado again, the meet was terribly unorganized, and the scheduling and communication pitiful. I spent over $550.00 in order to come to this event, including airfare, rental car, hotel, meet fees, and food...I deserve the right to compete.

On the page that links to the schedule, the following statement was made

Competition Schedule (HTML, PDF) - Please note that events will take place on the days listed but actual times will be determined by registration numbers.

Note the part where is says "THE EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE DAYS LISTED" In that document, the Men's 19-29 high jump is scheduled for Sunday After the Women's competition.

I know you can't alter the results, that's unfair to the competitors who jumped on Saturday. Out of pity, and embarrassment, the gentlemen who were present that Sunday morning were kind enough to allow me to have an individual meet with myself and the bar, complete with an official. There was no way I was going to travel so far and NOT do some jumping. I am very thankful that they went out of their way to make my day a little bit better, they were very apologetic, and cited a "lack of communication".

I jumped 6'6" and had some solid attempts at 6'8". I know that having other competitors in the field would have allowed for higher heights. In the future, the schedule needs to be explicitly clear *well in advance* and all individuals answering emails need to have the schedule straight.

Please address these issues over the next two years, and demonstrate that this event is worth making the effort to attend...I have attended the Empire State Games as a competitor twice, and it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had...very organized and well funded...perhaps the SGA needs to take a serious look at the state that founded the state games movement.

Sincerely,
Pete Ippel
- posted by Pete Ippel @ 1:10 AM