The title was originally "Pre Nats move to Fri". We added more to it to make it mroe descriptive. Here is a weather forecast that shows a 45% chance of thunderstorms. Columbia, MO Local Weather | AccuWeather
John McDonnell is either laughing or turning in his grave right now. I'm not sure which. But, I would say that something like this would never have moved a race (or a workout for that matter). I post from personal experience. And.......I think I share his perspective.
He did have to put up with some late night delays during spring track season though due to those lovely hail bearing, lightning riddled, tornado alley thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are different than rain. Every time a strike of lightning is observed, the race needs to be pushed back 30 minutes. And the clock restarts with every strike. It could delay the meet for hours. Even worse, if a strike occurs during the race, the runners need to be pulled off the course mid-race. You should know this.
I've been around the sport for many years and I can never recall runners being pulled off of the course during the race. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I just can't recall it happening.
We haven't had many severe thunderstorms in the U.S. this month. But that may change this weekend. Here's our latest forecast regarding a threat for damaging winds, hail and even a few tornadoes.
I can understand the decision, even though I'm sure nobody liked making it. Missouri's administrators and training room would insist on a series of 60 minute delays if there was lightning on race day, just like they do during track meets, which could leave teams huddled in vans for hours. And I'm pretty sure they would insist on pulling runners off the course if lightning was detected after the gun went off. And they have those stupid machines that detect lightning from miles away. The coaches also probably aren't excited about trashing the course, but that's secondary.
Probably every team that is flying in is arriving Thursday, so not ideal, but not a disaster either. Might be hard for any nearby teams who planned to drive in on Friday to get hotel rooms a day early, but not insurmountable.
Thunderstorms are different than rain. Every time a strike of lightning is observed, the race needs to be pushed back 30 minutes. And the clock restarts with every strike. It could delay the meet for hours. Even worse, if a strike occurs during the race, the runners need to be pulled off the course mid-race. You should know this.
I've been around the sport for many years and I can never recall runners being pulled off of the course during the race. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I just can't recall it happening.
Track meet in NJ when Joe Rosa was pulled with one lap to go.
Joe Rosa of West Windsor-Plainsboro North was on state record pace in the 3,200m with a lap to go at the 2011 Meet of Champions when the race was stopped.
Thunderstorms are different than rain. Every time a strike of lightning is observed, the race needs to be pushed back 30 minutes. And the clock restarts with every strike. It could delay the meet for hours. Even worse, if a strike occurs during the race, the runners need to be pulled off the course mid-race. You should know this.
I've been around the sport for many years and I can never recall runners being pulled off of the course during the race. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I just can't recall it happening.
The race putter onners likely have to insure. If that's the case there's likely a lightning policy which needs to be adhered to. This likely includes all of what's listed above.
It's not about toughness...as some of the internet dweebs have posted....it's about liability.
They postponed a cross country meet because there is an 85% chance of thunderstorms?
I can't imagine that's true. Are teams even there early enough to race the day before?
Wejo come get your dimwitted brother
I'm sort of shocked they moved up the meet a day, considering many teams are flying in but maybe most teams fly in 2 days early? Cross country meet are always outside.
How many major college meets have you heard of being cancelled? I can't think of any. Now maybe that is because the meets are in the fall and most thunderstorms are spring/summer. Think of major track meets. Can't think of any of them being cancelled either.
Of course if there is lightning nearby they would have to delay things day of race. But thunderstorms generally are pretty limited in duration and things get pushed a few hours. But maybe the administrators checked with teams and most were flying in 2 days in advance? So they were just like "hey we can move this and it won't impact anyone"
Golf tournaments you sometimes know it's going to rain all day but rain is different than tstorms.
If you were supposed to run and had your flight changed email me
Ok I looked at the entries. Most of the teams were likely flying to the meet.
Driving: Arkansas Illinois Indiana State Iowa Kansas Kansas State Missouri Nebraska Purdue Saint Louis Wichita State
Might drive: Kentucky ~6 hrs 30 min Minnesota ~7 hrs 15 min Oklahoma State ~6 hrs Tennessee ~6 hrs
Likely Flying: Boston College Bryant Cal Poly Chattanooga Clemson Colorado State Florida Florida State Georgia Idaho State Liberty Loyola (Ill.) Miami (Ohio) Mississippi State Montana State Northern Colorado Ole Miss Penn State Quinnipiac San Francisco Santa Clara South Dakota State Texas Utah State Villanova Wyoming Youngstown State
reading the NWS forecast discussion and hourly forecast for columbia, MO, they are expecting a day-long storm with heavy rain and maybe afternoon winds and hail. it's also forecast as a slow moving thing with high rain chances all day.
so it's not forecast as some thin quick squall line where you can wait it out, or run it til 12, send them back to the hotels until 2, then bring them back after it blows through, so to speak.
to me it's do you want to get this done or not, teams might have flights booked for saturday night or sunday morning, they can't stay forever without redoing tickets, and as it stands i'd be curious how many teams had planned on arriving thursday night to be ready to run friday morning.
Penn state canceled an XC meet back in 2009 when an early snowstorm dumped half a foot of wet heavy snow in mid October. The course was blocked and covered by fallen tree limbs and branches due to still having leaves plus the weight of snow.
Penn State rerouted to race at Princeton on Friday. Probably had travel thrown off. They were only bringing the men as the women are racing at Nuttycombe.