Weather cools as seasons wind down
I guess I missed the exciting snowfall Wednesday morning. I, along with my mother and frozen Easter foodstuffs, visited my sister Lori in Youngwood as the frozen precipitation fell from the heavens.
Given the way the weather has been for much of the spring sports season, I鈥檓 not surprised the recent days have produced hail, snow, gusting winds and rain.
What is surprising to me, however, is the extended forecast for the remainder of the week, given my schedule.
I鈥檓 heading to Uniontown鈥檚 Bill Power Stadium this afternoon for the section-closing meet between the Red Raiders and rival Laurel Highlands.
Then, I鈥檒l be spending all morning and most of the afternoon Saturday at Laurel Highlands鈥� Mustang Stadium for the annual county track & field meet.
I close the week with my yearly trek up Interstate 40 in the Summit Challenge.
The extended forecast? Chilly, windy, but only slight chances of rain on any of those three outings. My wind-beaten, rain-drenched poncho and rainsuit appreciate the break!
And, if you haven鈥檛 enjoyed the Summit, there鈥檚 nothing like a brisk 3陆-mile walk (in my case) or run that basically courses up a 50-story building, bright and early on a Sunday morning.
(Word from the person who initially talked me into this yearly sojourn, Jamie Brooks, is this will be our 20th attempt 鈥渦p the hill.鈥� Looks like my niece Emily will make her first trip, taking part in what I overheard a walker telling a friend one year when asked why, 鈥淚t鈥檚 for the adventure.鈥�)
It鈥檚 not too late to find out what you鈥檝e been missing all these years. Late registration (and early packet pick-up) is available on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. at McMillen Engineering at 115 Wayland Smith Drive (at the Fayette Business Park) or at the Hopwood V.F.D. on Sunday from 7-8:30 a.m. Cost is $30 for the pleasure of a very unique race.
While you鈥檙e at it, why not bundle up and head to Laurel Highlands Saturday morning to watch the county鈥檚 finest runners, sprinters, throwers and jumpers, including arguably the state鈥檚 best female javelin thrower, Connellsville鈥檚 Madison Wiltrout. Cost is minimal considering all the available action.
And, you won鈥檛 need an umbrella, I promise.
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The weather is making athletic directors earn their pay this spring, especially considering the baseball and softball section schedules need to be completed in two weeks.
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Westminster junior Marissa Kalsey, a Waynesburg Central graduate, emailed me a video of her nearly-cleared attempt at 13-8 last weekend at Slippery Rock before we talked for the story I did about the meet.
She was way over the bar, but incorrectly set her standards so her torso hit the bar on the way down.
Needless to say, she was pretty excited about the attempt with the NCAA national championships about a month away.
Kalsey currently has the top vault in Division III at 13-3陆.
Coached by fellow Waynesburg graduate Bradi Rhoades, Kalsey is an entertaining interview who apparently is so engrossed in her vaults she has no recollection of what happened, like how many attempts needed at a height, what heights she passed, and other such trivial details.
Fortunately, she keeps a journal of each vault and videotape is available to jog her memory.
The elementary education major is a good-natured soul, fortunately, and laughed about her memory lapses throughout the interview.
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Seton Hill redshirt senior Mallory Sanner won the Division II javelin title two years ago and the Uniontown graduate currently holds the sixth-best throw at 158-7.
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The future of the Keystone Ice Miners franchise is in limbo after getting swept out of the NAHL playoffs, but keep an eye out in the 缅北禁地 sports pages for any and all details of the junior hockey team鈥檚 future.