Steve Roth Relays

WASHINGTON - Never in his 45 years of coaching had Steve Roth been as elated over a simple track and field meet as he was Friday at Case Field when his namesake relays were conducted.

Iowa City High won the large class, A, of the Steve Roth Relays with Washington sixth and Mt. Pleasant eighth. Fort Madison won Class B and Mid-Prairie took second. Fairfield was fifth.In the small school Class C, Wapello cruised to a 59-point advantage over second-place Columbus. Winfield-Mount Union was fourth, Highland fifth and WACO eighth. Washington junior varsity was ninth.

Not even a postponement from Thursday to Friday could dampen Roth's elation. In fact, he orchestrated that postponement to avoid the Thursday weather that would have left everyone soaked and chilled.

Even though his mask covered it up, Roth had a smile that never left his face. Those eyes danced to match the joy in his heart that the weather was 50 degrees and no rain.

'The highlight of the day was having a meet, just so excited we were able to have it,” Roth said. 'We did everything we could to make sure the kids could run.”

A large part of conducting a meet with 24 teams running in three classes was the volunteer helpers.

'I want to thank all the workers because it's a team effort and they were so important,” Roth said.

Beside the fact that the athletes in the spring sport of track were taking to the lanes and the field for the first time in nearly two years, there was an added ingredient to the pure giddiness Roth exuded.

While he was devastated when the 2020 season was suspended, then canceled, a more sinister devastation overtook him when he contracted COVID-19. He spent most of March and some of April of 2020 in his basement in misery.

'My symptoms were gone (April 13) and my fever ended a week before that, but I still had a cough,” Roth said. 'My fever was never bad but it went hot and cold and I'd get clammy hands.”

Roth recovered without a hospital visit, but the experience led him to make sure precautions were followed Friday.

Masks were required for entry. Roth had to remove one spectator who had ventured into the infield where only athletes and coaches were allowed.

'I just want people to know that whatever it takes, we need to do it because the coronavirus is not something to mess with,” Roth said.

Social distancing at the field events was enforced and the high jump mat was sanitized after each flight. Blocks were also sanitized after being used. Team camps were spread out. Even discarded sweats before a race were kept apart.

'We do what you have to do and we do it for others in our life,” Roth said. 'Do your best for them.”