State track meet postponed to two-day schedule on Saturday and Sunday

Note: This story was updated at 11:43 a.m

LAKEWOOD — The state track and field championships have been postponed due to the storm that blew in overnight, and left snow on the infield and track at Jeffco Stadium.

The storm is expected to last through Friday, making it prohibitive to run any events. As a result, the state meet has been moved to a two-day schedule, and will run on Saturday and Sunday.

“This snow came earlier than any forecast we’d seen,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Jenn Roberts-Uhlig, who administers track.

Early Thursday morning, track’s games committee met at Jeffco Stadium and made the decision to postpone the first day of events because track and field conditions on site wouldn’t allow for safe competition.

That committee continued to meet through the morning on Thursday to discuss further plans. By late morning, they came to the conclusion that Friday would not be an option, either.

Any athlete knowing they will scratch and not participate in any event needs to notify Jenn Roberts-Uhlig via email by Friday at noon. At that time, the meet will be reseeded and new heat sheets will be posted by Friday afternoon.

Details on how the meet will run:

The revised schedule has a time slot at 11:50 a.m. on Sunday to honor those seniors who will be missing their graduation. They are encouraged to wear caps and gowns. Their coaches must check in to the inquiry table in order to participate.
There will be no prelims in running events. All events will be transitioned into timed finals.
Field events will have four throws and jumps, without prelims. All will be finals. Judges will adjust and move participants as needed, and/or consolidate from two flights to one flight.
Adjustments may be made for the starting heights of the pole vault and high jump to accommodate weather conditions and the number of participants.
In the high jump, there will be two-inch increments until one jumper remains. He or she will determine the heights.
Pole vaulters will have six-inch increments until one jumper remains. He or she will determine the heights.
The uniform rules will be enforced without exception.
Relay participants are not needed until teams turn in their relay card with the clerk. Therefore, they may make changes prior to check in for that race. Relay cards are in packs, and can be picked up at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
Gates will also open to athletes at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. General public can enter at 7 a.m. on both days.
The Unified/Paralympic and Special Olympic races will be combined into one event of a 100-meter dash at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.