The inaugural Dave Soeth MUSD Backyard Bash track and field meet will fittingly be hosted at East Union’s Dino Cunial Stadium today.

The event’s namesake was part of the original staff at East Union, which opened in 1966. He taught there for 30 years and coached the cross country and track teams. Soeth totaled 39 years with Manteca Unified School District, finishing his stint as a guidance counselor across town at Sierra.

“When I set this up, I called Dave and told him we’re starting a whole new track meet with just MUSD schools,” East Union track coach Willie Herrera said. “With his background in our district and longevity in track and field, I asked, ‘Would you do the honor of letting us name this meet after you?’ He was overjoyed and taken aback.”

Herrera said MUSD’s five high school will take turns hosting the meet, based on alphabetical order. It takes place next year at Lathrop, followed by Manteca, Sierra and Weston Ranch.

Inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame in 2012 as an educator, Soeth has continued to work in track as an official at high school meets and USA Track & Field-sanctioned events.

“We want to do this annually,” Herrera said. “Everybody gets an opportunity to host it and showcase what they have on campus and what we have going on in Manteca Unified.”

The varsity-only meet begins with field events starting at 9:30 a.m. Track events start at 10. Each school is allowed to enter a maximum of three individuals in every event and one team per relay race. There will be no more than two heats or flights.

A perpetual trophy goes to the winning school, based on combined points from boys and girls competitions. The trophy includes a 1984 Olympics commemorative sculpture, which was meant to be mounted on AT&T phones. It’s now fixed on a cherry wood block that will have names of the winning schools engraved annually.

Tickets can be purchased on GoFan. Costs are $8 per adult, $6 for adults with boosters cards, $4 for seniors, students and military and $2 for students with boosters cards.