April 21, 2000

The weather in Springfield, MA at the Vern Cox Invitational was the cause for some teams not to show up at all, and others to pull competitors out of events due to safety concerns. MIT coach Halston Taylor, sent his team home after four events, indicating that one week before the start of a series of championships was too close to risk injuries and illness in a meet that was non-scoring. Rain pooring down, cold temperatures in the 40s, and gusting winds were too much in a meet schedule that was predicted to be at least 4 1/2 hours in length.

The purpose of this meet for MIT was to improve performances to qualify for the various championships upcoming in the next 5 weeks. Tech jumpers started things off in the Long Jump with marks that could hardly be called improved performances. Robbie Gray '02, Craig Mielcarz '03, and Junius Ho '01, all jumping 21' 6" or better this year, could do no better than 20' 2". In addition, the jumpers, in hopes of getting out of the rain, were just huddling under an umbrella inbetween jumps rather than properly prepare for their next effort. Although they all made the finals, the team left prior to the start of those finals.

The 3000 Steeplechase was the first running event. Phil Loiselle '01, and Craig Wildman '03, made the most of the situation and ran well. Craig ran a personal best with a 10:26 effort. MIT withdrew their 400 Relay team in fear of pulled muscles then ran all middle distance and distance runners in the 1500 before leaving for home.

Nikos Michalakis '01, competed in the first round of the Javelin at the same time the Long Jumpers were competing. Nikos managed a 180' 2" effort despite the conditions, but was certainly in risk of injury during the plant and block phase of his throw, and held plenty in reserve.

Coach Taylor said it was the first time in his 21 years of coaching that he has had a team leave a meet before it was over. "One other time in poor weather conditions I resisted the urge to pull my team and we lost our two best sprinters for the remainder of the season with severe muscle pulls. I could see this happening again, and 1 week prior to the start of our championships made it not worth the risk."

Next week, MIT returns to Springfield to defend their crown as NEWMAC Champions against a favored Springfield team that is always tough at home.