Coral Shores and Key West decided their athletes could use a little more preparation before toeing the line for the first time this season, but a contingent of Dolphins was ready to race. Marathon traveled to Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Miami on Aug. 21 for the Conquistador Kickoff, only to meet an all-too-familiar opponent in late-August South Florida sports: the weather.
Meet officials initially delayed the races rather than send runners out ahead of approaching storms, then extended the delay as the rain came down. By the time the skies finally cleared around 7 p.m., officials pulled the plug on the meet, sending the Dolphins and their competition home without logging a single official mile.
Though Marathon coaches Helena Bursa and Shannon Wiley were disappointed, Bursa, at least, wasn’t particularly surprised.
“Last year it happened twice,” she said.
Weather permitting, all three Keys teams will get another shot soon. Coral Shores is scheduled to open its season Aug. 27 at Palmer Trinity School, with Marathon racing at Pine Crest the following day. Key West will take its first mark Sept. 3 at the FNU Invitational – back at Larry & Penny Thompson Park.
