400-meter relay fifth, Harchelroad ninth in long jump at state track

Wauneta-Palisade track athletes have battled the elements, as well as opponents, at recent state track meets.
    This year added a new twist, problems with the timing system Friday. Two years ago the problem plagued the state meet when the weather was wet.
    This year, officials struggled even when it wasn’t raining. The meet took a 30 minutes break Friday afternoon for “technical issues.” By the time Ty Duvel ran in the 200-meter dash prelims the meet was over an hour behind schedule. Officials set up utility vehicles at the finish line to provide enough light for automatic timing system to work. Duvel, in his first trip to the state meet, spent around five minutes waiting at the blocks for his heat to start.
    “The delays were crazy,” WP Head Coach Dawn Doetker said. “It can effect a person in the mind.”

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