SNOHOMISH — A few weeks ago Tuck Gionet checked the long-term weather forecast and immediately worried.
Unseasonably cold weather in mid-April? “Oh no. Not again,” Gionet thought.
Forgive Gionet, Snohomish High School’s head track and field coach, for being on edge. A year ago he was forced to cancel what was supposed to be the 20th annual Larry Eason Invitational track and field meet. The culprit: Frigid conditions that included up to 3 inches of snow.
For the first time, weather wiped out the Eason Invite, one of the state’s largest yearly track invites, hosted by Snohomish High. Attempts to reschedule the competition — which was supposed to feature more than 1,100 athletes from about 50 schools — failed.
Since then, Gionet has heard more than enough jokes about spring snow.
“Everybody’s been talking about it. Every coach says something about it,” said Gionet. “It always enters the conversation, which has been very, very entertaining to me.”
Fortunately for Gionet and Snohomish, the 2009 version of the Eason should be a go. It is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. today and the forecast is for mostly sunny skies with a high temperature in the low 60s.
Close to 1,200 competitors representing 61 teams are expected to participate. More than 150 volunteers are ready to make sure everything goes smoothly, said meet director Gionet.
For Snohomish High athletes, it’s a long-awaited chance to take part in the Eason.
“A lot of kids are especially excited about it, particularly the kids that are seniors,” Gionet said.
Last year, Snohomish thrower Marlyn Anderson saw the disappointment of senior teammates who didn’t get to compete in the Eason. Anderson, now a senior, is grateful he gets another chance.
“It’s one of the biggest track meets in Washington and it’s a great privilege and honor to have it at Snohomish,” said Anderson. “And I think we do a pretty good job of running it.”
The Pasco Invite, another massive Washington track showcase, is also today. The overlap didn’t significantly hurt participation in the Eason, Gionet said. But it seems many of the state’s best sprinters in search of warmer weather opted to run in Pasco, where it is supposed to be 68 degrees and sunny.
Overall, the field athletes will probably overshadow the track athletes at the Eason, Gionet said. Local field stars include Snohomish’s Anderson (ranked No. 1 in Class 4A in the shot put and discus, according to Athletic.net), Cascade’s Brittany Jones (No. 2 in 4A discus) and Archbishop Murphy’s Sarah Schireman. A University of Washington recruit, Schireman is ranked first in 2A in four events (long jump, triple jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles).
A new wrinkle for the Eason is the addition of a co-host. Glacier Peak, the new Snohomish high school, will help coordinate the meet. The Grizzlies coaching staff includes several former Snohomish High coaches, including Dan Parker and Jerrod Akins. A portion of Eason profits will go toward the purchase of track and field equipment for Glacier Peak, Gionet said.
As usual, boys and girls will compete in the hammer throw at the Eason. The event is not sanctioned by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association because of facility limitations and safety concerns. But Gionet always gets a special waiver to include the event. This year’s hammer group (14 girls and 14 boys) might be the largest ever, Gionet said.
Mike Cane: 425-339-3471, mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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