In a track and field meet, most of the focus is placed on the athletes and the coaching staff. But the unnoticed participants of the meet that make it run smoothly are the volunteers.

Volunteer work is a major key in the development of a track meet. There are many events that require more than one participant to make it run effectively.

SIUC women’s track and field coach Don DeNoon said the volunteers are a very important factor in a track meet.

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A track meet is a very intricate event, DeNoon said. It takes about 75 volunteers at each meet to pull it off correctly.

Kathryn, assistant director of Intramural Recreational Sports, said she has been volunteering for about 10 years.

I started when a MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) outdoor meet called for volunteers, and I thought it sounded like fun, Hollister said.

Hollister said she has volunteered in both indoor and outdoor meets.

It’s fun because each meet does its own thing, Hollister said. I’ve been in the rain and cold outside, and I’ve watched the different events inside. They are different, but both are fun.

Vernon Cornell, a library technical assistant at Morris Library who works the finish line and video records the finishes, said he started volunteering eight years ago.

Working the events satisfies a feeling of service, I guess you could say, to my school, Cornell said. I enjoy the action at the finish line.

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Some of the events that the volunteers work are the long jump and triple jump, where someone is needed to measure jumps.

Volunteers also watch runners and make sure they stay in their own lane and do not interfere with the other runners.

Other jobs include timers, set-up crews for hurdling events and many other little jobs that make the meet possible.

Men’s track and field coach Bill Cornell said it is always a scramble to find volunteers.

It’s a tough chore to find these people for home meets because we can’t afford to pay all these people, Bill Cornell said. We’d be lost if we didn’t have these people.

Hollister said she has enjoyed volunteering at the track and field meets.

It’s a worthy experience, Hollister said. It helps you learn about yourself and expand from the particular things you do. It is very rewarding and a cause worth doing.

DeNoon said newcomers are welcome, and they will receive help at their events.

We have a tremendous number of volunteers in various events, DeNoon said. In most cases when volunteers are new to an event, we have someone who has worked that event before help them out.

Vernon Cornell said he would encourage anyone to volunteer and help out.

We’re always needing help in track meets, he said. Not just in timing, but in many other areas that require officials.

Bill Cornell said anyone is free to come and help out.

They don’t have to be very experienced, and it doesn’t take long to learn, he said. We try to split up the shifts so one person doesn’t have to work the whole day.

Anyone interested in volunteering for a track and field meet should contact women’s track and field coach Don DeNoon at 453-5460 in his office or at his home at 529-4973; or contact men’s track and field coach Bill Cornell in his office at 453-7243 or at home at 549-7240. The Salukis’ first home meet is Jan. 17.