For the first time in its 20-year history, the Larry Eason Invitational track and field meet at Snohomish High School was canceled.
More than 1,100 athletes from about 50 high schools were expected to compete Saturday in the Eason Invite, one of the state’s largest annual track and field showcases.
The reason for the cancellation, of course, was unseasonably cold, snowy weather. The 39-event invite was scheduled to start with the men’s hammer throw at 8 a.m. and conclude late in the evening. But as of 6 a.m., 2 inches of snow were on the track, and 3 inches blanketed the warmup space on the synthetic turf in Veterans Memorial Stadium and the adjacent throwing pits, said meet director Tuck Gionet, Snohomish High’s head track and field coach.
Runners would have had difficulty warming up for events, and based on a forecast for even more snow they would have been soaking wet all day in temperatures topping out in the mid- to upper-40s.
“We just decided that wasn’t a fair situation to put any of the athletes in,” Gionet said.
The Eason might be rescheduled for May 3, Gionet said. He wasn’t sure how the size and scope of the meet would change.
Friday afternoon Gionet hoped for the best even as snow began falling. At 4:27 p.m. he sent an e-mail to coaches and officials and assured them the Eason was still on.
At 4 a.m. Saturday, Gionet said he and his sons TJ and Kyle arrived at Snohomish High and started shoveling snow off the track. But after 45 minutes it was clearly a lost cause, Gionet said.
As quickly as possible, he sent an e-mail update and posted a message on the meet Web site announcing the cancellation. Snohomish athletic director Mark Albertine notified local radio and TV stations, Gionet said.
Some athletes and coaches didn’t get the news in time.
Five Canadian teams, represented by about eight athletes apiece, and a group of around 15 competitors from Cleveland High of Seattle showed up Saturday morning, Gionet said. Three of the Canadian teams stayed in Snohomish-area hotels Friday night but the other two squads drove in Saturday morning from Vancouver, British Columbia, said Gionet.
Their trip wasn’t a complete waste though.
“We sent them home with doughnuts,” Gionet said.
In years past the weather was often ideal for the Eason. However, a few times in the mid- to late-1990s chilly, windy conditions and lightning caused concern. But none of that came close to this weekend’s uncompromising conditions.
“It kind of reminds you of who’s in charge around here,” said Gionet.
It’s unclear if teams will get refunds for their entry fees. The cost for a boys team or a girls team to sign up was $75. It was $120 for schools that signed up boys and girls. Gionet said he will reimburse coaches who request a refund.
Ticket and food sales usually generate $6,000 at the Eason, said Gionet. The money pays for the Snohomish track team’s transportation, equipment and uniform costs. But thanks to profits stockpiled in past seasons, the cancellation isn’t a financial disaster.
“Will we feel it? Sure,” Gionet said. “Is it a deal-breaker for our program? No.”
It usually takes more than 150 volunteers to make the Eason run smoothly. Besides not needing their services, Gionet didn’t need loads of food that was supposed to feed volunteers, officials and fans.
It didn’t go to waste. More than 100 sack lunches, 20 dozen hamburger and hot dog buns, and 20 dozen doughnuts were donated to the Everett Gospel Mission, Gionet said.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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