State Games eyes expansion in 2003

By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
June 25, 2002
The State Games of Mississippi for 2002 have ended. Now the planning for the 2003 games begins.
From early indications and e-mails, Luke said many of the participants enjoyed their stay in the Meridian area.
About the only bad thing during the three-week run was the rain that came in late Saturday and lasted through much of Sunday.
Tennis was not as fortunate. Only one final was completed as Meridian's David Ray won the boys 18-and-under title at Northeast Park. The rest were washed out.
As for the future, look for the 2003 State Games to expand to a third week.
One casualty because of scheduling was youth swimming. It was slated for June 14-15 but was cancelled because of a lack of entries.
If we move something to the first week, it will be to obtain a bigger amount of participants," she said.
Athletes competed in 23 sports around the Meridian area. Youth soccer was again the top draw with over 1,200 players participating. A full field of eight teams battled in both boys and girls action during June 15-16.
One of the many athletes who came to symbolize what the State Games are about is Gulfport's William Calvert.
The 66-year-old Calvert came to Meridian all three weekends of the games. He won a pair of gold medals in the Summer Biathlon which was held the first weekend in June.
Calvert came back to the adult track and field meet at MCC and won a gold and two silvers. He was back this past weekend to compete in the 2-mile walk where he won another gold giving him four for the games. He wound up his tour by participating in the kayak races.