YMBL Babe Zaharias Memorial Relays celebrates 46 years
The Young Men’s Business League will celebrate the 46th year of the YMBL Babe Zaharias Memorial Relays on November 5th & 6th.The event will be held at the Beaumont United High School Stadium in Beaumont in cooperation with the Beaumont Independent School District.Track and field events will be held at the stadium from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. each day.
This special athletic program is a program of sports training and athletic competition, supplementary to the regular school program, for students of all ages receiving special education services from public schools, state or local agencies.The program provides all competitors the opportunity to participate in athletic competition against students of like abilities and enables students to demonstrate their skills while receiving recognition as representatives of their schools.The primary purpose of this annual track and field meet is to contribute to the physical, social and psychological development of the students.Through positive, successful experiences in sports, students can gain confidence and build self-images associated with success.
Some of the events on tap for the Relays will include the 25-, 50- and 100-yard dash, standing broad jump, softball throw, football relay, tug-o-war, sack relay and shuttle relay.Wheelchair events will include the 25-yard race, shuttle relay, softball throw, obstacle course and basketball free throw.
The Babe Didrikson Zaharias Foundation was established in 1969 to preserve and promote the legacy of its namesake.A museum in her honor was built in 1976 to champion support for female athletes in all sports.Zaharias, born in Port Arthur, achieved outstanding success in golf, basketball, softball and track and field.She was named the 10th Greatest North American Athlete of the 20th Century by ESPN, and the 9th Greatest Athlete of the 20th Century by the Associated Press.
The Young Men's Business League, established in 1917, strives to improve the general welfare of the Beaumont area. It develops and pursues programs that will maintain and improve the city's educational facilities and opportunities and undertakes activities to enhance the agricultural and commercial resources of the area. YMBL takes part in projects which will benefit the youth as well as the elderly and is ever mindful of the needs of the community in fields of health and welfare, public works and civic improvement, governmental leadership and spiritual guidance.