Snow causes a mad dash to the races

Friday’s snowstorm not only delayed flights into Logan Airport, it also delayed yesterday’s start of the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track and Field Center. Organizers pushed back the start by two hours and scratched preliminary rounds in the men’s and women’s 60 hurdles and men’s and women’s 60-meter dash. But that did not cure all the headaches for some athletes, who found themselves stuck in various airports and unable to fly into Boston.

Stranded in Detroit, a group of athletes including Millrose Games women’s pole vault champion Jillian Schwartz & Andree’ Pickens decided to rent a car and drive to Boston. Since the well-traveled athletes had their passports with them, they traveled through Canada to avoid most of the inclement weather. The group started Friday night, and as of late yesterday afternoon USA Track & Field officials did not know whether they had arrived.

“We haven’t lost anybody,” said USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer as the scheduled events got under way. “Everyone who planned to be here is either here or en route.”

Categories: Pre Meet Remarks