Gusty wind, poor weather force meet to be postponed

By DOUG KATES, Times Correspondent
Published March 8, 2008

Shorecrest runners and identical twins Lindsey, left, and Sarah Evans compete in the 1600 meters during the meet, which was postponed until Monday afternoon because of poor weather.
	[Edmund D. Fountain | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Edmund D. Fountain | Times] David Norris runs the 100 meters for Keswick Christian, which stands in second place behind Northside Christian.

ST. PETERSBURG - On any normal day, the pole vault can be a challenging event. Add a 20 mph crosswind and it makes the event even more challenging.

"It adds quite a twist to the situation," said Indian Rocks Christian senior James Johnson, who took first place Friday at the Bay Conference Track and Field Championships at Shorecrest.

"The wind was pushing my pole to the side," he said. "I had to muscle my pole back into the box a couple of times."

Johnson had to compete with the gusty wind, but he was one of the fortunate athletes to get an event in. Half of the meet was completed, but when lightning arrived, the other half was postponed until Monday afternoon.

Erin McClenathan of Shorecrest, winner of the girls pole vault, told a similar weather story.

"It was difficult because it was a side wind," she said. "It kept pushing my pole."

Despite the conditions, McClenathan set a personal best mark in the event with a jump of 8 feet, 9 inches. She couldn't explain it but assumed the wind made her concentrate more.

At the unofficial halfway point, Keswick Christian is leading the girls standings with 127 points, followed by Northside Christian with 119 points.

Keswick had three individual champions, including Laura Hodupp, who took titles in the shot put and discus. And the girls won two relays.

Northside Christian leads the boys standings with 108 points, followed by Keswick Christian with 94 points.

Of the eight individual events completed, Northside won five of them. Chad Rose led the way with victories in the discus and shot put.

Three hours into the meet, attendees spotted lightning approaching the school.

At first, there was a 30-minute delay because of the weather.

But coaches wasted little time agreeing to come back Monday.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 01:03:41]