Builders plagued by weather again
Thunderstorms ended the Southwestern Relays two events into the finals, the third weather-wrecked meet of the spring.
By Wade Ellison
For the third time this spring, the weather beat the Southwestern track teams.
Saturday’s Southwestern Relays were called off two events into the finals after 90 minutes of waiting out thunderstorms. The field events were finished, but many runners entered only in the evening session never got to compete. The Builders’ first two meets of the season, including the Southwestern Invitational on March 12, were canceled outright.
“This outdoor season has been unlike any other in my years here,” said men’s coach Jim Helmer, in his 31st season. Ten teams had come, and 70 to 80 track and cross country alumni were in town for the weekend.
There were bright spots. Freshman Carrington Crum and junior Zack Conroy set personal bests to finish first and second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Crum’s winning time of 9:31.42 put him ninth on the week’s NAIA list.