Weather may delay today’s track start

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany High School track season is slated to start today in Breckenridge, although the weather forecast may delay or even cancel the event.

Field events are scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by running events at 5:00 p.m.

The meet is billed as a relay event, which means there are additional, non-traditional relays on the schedule while some of the usual races are not being held.

“This will be a different format than usual,” boys track coach Rod Britting said. “The idea is to get as many kids as possible to participate in various relays and possibly increase their interest in track, or at least get them in multiple events.”

In addition to the traditional 400 meter, 800 meter and 1600 meter relays, there will be a super medley with two legs of 100 meters each and a 200 meter leg. The sprint medley will include two 200 meter legs, a 400 meter and 800 meter.

Finally, there will also be a throwers’ relay for participants also competing in either the shot put or discus.

Britting said that he has a total of 22 students in varsity and JV boys track this season.

Meets will be smaller this season due to ­COVID-19, with the UIL limiting most meets to teams from four schools at the same location.

The coach said that he is expecting jumping events to be strong this season for the Lions.

“This will be an interesting meet since we haven’t had a single practice yet,” he said.

Girls track coach Dakota Fowler has had the chance to work with her girls despite the weather conditions.

The coach reported that she has 10 members on both the varsity and JV teams this season.

She is looking for the girls to be strong in the high jump, hurdles, mile relay, triple jump, open 400, and the 800 meter relay this year.

The girls will have the same race schedule at the Breckenridge meet as the boys.

“They say it is supposed to rain on Thursday, so we will just have to see what happens,” she said.