Going against elements: Runners only compete at PNG
Published 12:04 am Friday, February 21, 2020
- PNG’s Serapio Rodriguez, center, runs in the boys 3,200-meter race on Thursday at the Joe Williamson Relays. (Brad Robichaux/The News)
The participants at the Joe Williamson Relays at Port Neches-Groves High School had to run through cold, rain and wind Thursday afternoon. The weather prompted PNG to cancel all field events and beginning running events at 3:30 p.m., starting with the 3,200-meter run.
“It was pretty bad (Thursday) morning with the rain and most of our shot put rings and discus rings are still underwater,” PNG track coach Mike Ballew said. “We didn’t feel it was safe for the kids, especially the pole vault. It’s pretty wet down there. We probably won’t make up the field events.
“I hate that we had to cancel the field events, because kids came out here to compete.”
Nederland’s Hannah Torres hands off the baton to Lindsay Richmond in the girls 4×100 relay on Thursday at PNG High School. (Brad Robichaux/The News)
Ballew said while the cold and wind might have some impact on the runners, he said there’s still time to adapt.
“It’s a pretty strong wind today, so it could affect the times a little bit, but it’s still early so we still have time to get better and get used to it,” he said.
Participating schools were Orangefield, Silsbee, Nederland, Bridge City, West Orange Stark, Kelly, Vidor, Lumberton, East Chambers and Dayton.
PNG’s Kaleb Wuenschel hands off to Cyrus Jacobs during the boys 4×100 relay Thursday at PNG High School. (Brad Robichaux/The News)
