Seven schools will participate in the boys track Ben Davis Invitational Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Avon, Bloomington North, Center Grove, Pike, Portage and Zionsville will join the host Giants for the event.

The Ben Davis Relays has a unique format that has many differences from a normal track meet.  Each school is represented by one entity per event. There are seven running relays, where four athletes from each school make up the relay team and can score.

The field events are also “relays” as the top two athletes performances from each school are added together to determine placing.  Finally, there are four open running events where a single entry from each school is given a chance for scoring for their team.

The scoring is 10-8-6-4-3-2-1.  Unique events not seen at a normal track meet include the 4×1600 meter relay, the 4×200 meter relay, the shuttle hurdle relay and the Giant medley relay.

The shuttle hurdle relay is where four hurdlers race in a 110 meter down and back shuttle run.  The first and third runners run 36 inch hurdles and the second and fourth runners run 39 inch hurdles.  The Giant medley relay consists of 4 unique distances that are not normally raced.  The 1st runner runs a 300 meter sprint.  The #2 runner covers a distance of 500 meters and hands off to his teammate who runs 1000 meters.  The anchor leg the finishes this exciting race by running 600 meters to the finish.

In honoring the outstanding traditions from past BD Giants, the 1600 meter run has been named in honor of Scott Williams, state champ, school record holder (4:09.2) and HS All-American and National Champion in cross country.  The 3200 meter run has been named the Fasil Bizuneh 3200 meter open.  Bizuneh also holds All-American status, was a multiple state champion in track and cross country, and ran professionally as one of our nation’s top runners at distances of 10,000 meters to the marathon.

The BD Relay’s most outstanding athlete of the meet award is named after Henry Hopkins, head coach at Ben Davis in the 70’s and 80’s.  A hall of fame coach, Henry Hopkins’ passion for track and field was evident throughout his career.  He also was an outstanding athlete, as he was national masters decathlon champion multiple times, and cleared 13 feet in the pole vault at age 50.