Even the wind gauges have taken a beating at track meets this spring. Colorado Track XC file photo.
It was setting up to be a stellar weekend of meets, but....
One major meet has already postponed. The St. Vrain Invitational, in light of a weather forecast of "100% chance of rain" likely accompanied by natural pyrotechnics, has rescheduled for May 4. A reschedule that late into the season obviously creates some scheduling dilemmas for teams. Working in the meet's favor, however, is the fact that it should provide a solid opportunity for prequalifying marks for athletes who haven't used up their allotted 11 opportunities on a date when most schools don't have a conflicting meet.
Thus far, it appears to remainder of this weekend's meets are still on the schedule, but many could be at the mercy of a weather system currently tightening its grip on the Front Range. Rain and lightning are definitely on the agenda this evening into Friday. If the storm blows through slightly ahead of schedule, however, Saturday may yet hold out some reason for hope.
With the reschedule of the St. Vrain Invitational, the biggest meet remaining on the docket for this weekend is the Dakota Ridge Invitational at Jeffco Stadium on Saturday. The meet features an invitational 3200 in the morning session. If the winds stay calm, temperatures could be close to ideal for some eyebrow-raising times by runners on fresh legs. Several of the teams in attendance have very capable 3200 runners.
Friday's schedule includes the Platte Valley Bronco Stampede in Kersey, the Montezuma-Cortez Invitational in Cortez, and the (boys) Tiger Relays in La Junta. At this point, Platte Valley is under the closest weather watch. On Saturday, attention shifts to the Ray Campbell Invitational at Fountain-Fort Carson, the George Washington Invitational at All-City Stadium in Denver, the Horizon Hawk Invitational in Westminster, and the Rifle Invitational. The smaller school classifications are lining up for meets in Pagosa Springs, Akron, Gunnison, and Swink.