High School Track & Field Meets (1956–1965)
From 1956 to 1965, Calgary’s High School Track & Field Meets were co-sponsored by the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association (CSHSAA) and the Calgary Booster Club, held at Mewata Stadium—a venue once home to the Calgary Stampeders until their move to McMahon Stadium in 1960.
Mewata Stadium had a unique feature: a cinder track that ran beneath the spectator stands along the back straightaway, a dark passage known as “the Tunnel.” With limited lighting at both ends and a small opening midway, runners would disappear into darkness for nearly 100 yards. This made races like the 440-yard dash especially thrilling, as spectators eagerly anticipated who would emerge in the lead.
Calgary’s High School Track & Field Meets
In those days, Calgary high school students had three major track & field events:
- City Championships – Last Saturday in May
- Provincial Championships – First Saturday in June at Stettler’s half-mile horse track (Fair Grounds)
- Calgary Booster Club Meet – Second Saturday in June
The Booster Club Meet was directed by John Mayell, Executive Secretary of the CSHSAA, who recruited Booster Club Directors as finish line judges, timers, and recorders.
A Memorable Moment – 1961
As a Viscount Bennett High School student, I competed in the Booster Club meet in 1959, 1960, and 1961 in the 880-yard and one-mile events. One particular memory stands out:
In 1961, heavy overnight rain left a huge puddle covering the track near the 220-yard start line. With no drainage system, John Mayell called the Fire Department for assistance. After some discussion, firefighters decided on a rather unconventional solution—they poured gasoline on the water and set it on fire! In about 20 minutes, the puddle was gone, and the meet proceeded as scheduled.
The End of an Era and a New Beginning
By 1966, with 14 high schools in Calgary, the CSHSAA restructured track & field, introducing four Section Meets, two Division Meets, and the City Championships.
With this new format, the Booster Club High School Track Meet was no longer needed, and in August 1967, we shifted focus by sponsoring the Provincial Junior Track & Field Championships in Calgary, hosting over 300 competitors.