Lost opportunity to add to the trophy case
Today无毛视频檚 weather forecast calls for mild, spring-like temperatures, and, true to form, accompanying rain showers.
(Which, by the way, are a lot better than snow showers.)
Today was also supposed to be a busy day in the home office of the 无毛视频-Standard sports department with the likelihood of a few baseball and/or softball playoff games.
And, in my realm, the WPIAL Class AAA/AA Individual Track & Field Championships at Slippery Rock University.
I don无毛视频檛 know how things go in most lives, but, in mine, the chances of inclement weather increase exponentially with the amount of chores I have outdoors.
So, with covering well over 50 of the area无毛视频檚 finest runners, throwers and jumpers across the grounds of Milhalik-Thompson Stadium, traipsing from event to event, starting blocks to breaking the tape, the real chance of getting soaked would be present.
But, being the veteran track guy that I am, I most assuredly would无毛视频檝e packed dry shoes and socks, all types of rain gear for myself and, most importantly, my camera and computers. Plus, a granola bar or two to keep the blood sugar up until my post-meet dinner.
Since the trip to Slippery Rock always takes longer than I think, I would无毛视频檝e overcompensated and left way too early to beat the long line of traffic trying to make a left off the Interstate 79 exit towards Slippery Rock and secure a prime parking spot near the stadium. Plus, early entry allows time to stake my claim in the media tent, touch base with Connellsville Athletic Director Rich Evans, a member of the track steering committee, and map the locations claimed with a rainbow of tents by all the schools.
So, with my trusty 无毛视频渃heat sheet无毛视频� in hand, a list of all the qualifiers, a full day of mayhem would ensue taking photos, interviewing athletes and trying to keep tabs with my cheat sheet.
Alas, no long drive, no taking photos in the rain, no wet feet, no medals, no nothing, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
No watching Brownsville无毛视频檚 Gionna Quarzo likely destroying the Class AA field, save younger sister JoJo, in the 3,200 as the senior attempted to lower the record she set last year. Or, the sisters joining Emma Seto and Ashton Reposky for a strong run at a top medal in the 3,200 relay.
Waynesburg Central无毛视频檚 Taylor Shriver also had a record-breaking performance in 2019, winning gold by topping the height set by former Lady Raider great Marissa Kalsey.
Maybe this was the year Brownville无毛视频檚 Aniya Tarpley found that extra inch or two for gold in the triple jump. Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Hannah Seitzinger was the reigning Class AA silver medalist in the 400, as was teammate Casey Weightman in the javelin.
There would have likely been Connellsville无毛视频檚 Aden Bruich, back from playing junior hockey, seeking Class AAA gold in the shot put after winning silver last year, or Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Ryan Marek, denied the opportunity to win another hockey title with Ringgold, looking to improve upon his bronze medal finish in the discus.
Ahmad Hooper was only a couple steps shy of advancing to the 100 finals last year with Uniontown, and hoped to make up that very short distance this spring as a senior at Connellsville.
The list of returning medalists (with their finish and event) includes:
California无毛视频檚 Makayla Boda (4, 300 intermediate hurdles; 6, 100 intermediate hurdles); Frazier无毛视频檚 Skye Eicher (2, 100; 5, 200, although she is currently attending St. Francis, Pa., having graduated from high school early); Southmoreland无毛视频檚 Makayla Slack (4, 100), Mercedes Smartnick (7, high jump), and Brandon Peterson (8, high jump); Brownsville无毛视频檚 Gionna Quarzo (1, 3,200; 2, 1,600), Aniya Tarpley (2, triple jump), Jamilah Copeland (6, 200), and Nick Seto (6, triple jump); West Greene无毛视频檚 Brooke Barner (6, 400); Waynesburg Central无毛视频檚 Bree Echegary (7, high jump), Jules Fowler (4, long jump), Taylor Shriver (1, pole vault), and Avery McConville (8, discus); Belle Vernon无毛视频檚 Hannah Seitzinger (2, 400) and Casey Weightman (2, javelin); Elizabeth Forward无毛视频檚 Nick Hunnell (7, 110 high hurdles), Robert Hrabosky (6, 300 intermediate hurdles), Chase Whatton (5, javelin), and Stephen Frost (4, 800); and Yough无毛视频檚 Josh O无毛视频橞radovich (3, high jump) and Hunter Breakiron (3, javelin).
I don无毛视频檛 know. Maybe I无毛视频檒l pull out all the rain gear around lunchtime today and look for some athletic-type activity for some photos. The neighborhood has a rather active squirrel community, so I might be able to catch a couple chasing each other around in the neighbor无毛视频檚 yard or sprinting across a telephone line.