Warren to host track meet

Season-opening Fairweather Relays set for Saturday morning

By Kevin Pierson, kpierson@mariettatimes.com
Robins landing on your windowsill, chipmunks scurrying through your yard and crickets chirping at night.

They’re all signs that spring is on the way, but it’s not until the fair weather Relays that spring actually arrives with all the sports that accompany the warm weather.

Set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Warren High School with field events Fairweather is a sure sign that it’s time to get outdoors for some sporting fun.

Of course, just because it’s called the “fairweather” relays doesn’t mean it always has fair weather.

“Sometimes it applies. Sometimes it’s really nice and warm and other times it’s cold and spitting snow,” Warren boys track coach Al Riffey said of the kick-off to the track season for the Warriors.

According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, W.Va., this year’s Fairweather Relays should see mostly sunny skies with a high of 52.

That should be prime weather for running races, which is just what Fairweather is about.

Field events begin the day with the 4x1600 meter relay to follow at 10:30 a.m., kicking off the track events. The 4x1600 relay requires approximately 20 minutes for boys and 23 minutes for the girls so it begins with the field events.

The remaining track events will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. and should conclude by 3 p.m.

Seven teams are in the field for this year’s Fairweather Relays — the Warriors, Belpre Golden Eagles, Fort Frye Cadets, Federal Hocking Lancers, Philo Electrics, St. Marys Blue Devils and Southern Tornadoes.

Under Riffey’s tutelage the Warrior boys will be looking to repeat as champions of the Fairweather Relays as the blue and white is excited to get the season under way.

“We’re anxious to get started. We have high expectations,” Riffey said.

The Warrior girls will also be looking to repeat as Sally Maddox’s squad took the girls title a year ago as well.

Fort Frye and Belpre are among the schools hoping to end the Warriors’ streak of wins at Fairweather while getting their own seasons under way with a strong start.

The Cadets will look for success from their distance runners with sophomore Jeremy Anderson leading the way but it’ll be a tough task against the Warriors’ returning state qualifier Tyler Cantley. Belpre’s boys track claimed the Tri-Valley Conference championship a year ago while the girls finished third so they, too, are expecting big things at Fairweather.

Fairweather Relays occurs on the first day schools are permitted to host a track meet and officially marks the beginning of the track season.

“Fairweather Relays is the first meet of the year. We like to get things started hosting one at home and we’re excited about the kind of seasons we can have with the boys and girls teams. We look forward to getting it started,” Riffey said.