While there is rain in the immediate forecast, the weather conditions have been better than normal for track and field athletes so far this spring.

The Ipswich Early Bird meet actually took place this year, something that seldom happens with the early April meet.

“I’ve been here since ‘99,” said Ipswich coach Todd Thorson, “and this is maybe the second time we’ve had it, maybe.”

The unusually mild spring has put area squads a bit ahead of schedule at this point.

“We’re typically behind. Typically, if it’s cold we drive south three hours, and the people in the south drive south three hours, they’re in warmer weather and we’re not,” Thorson said. “Typically, if you track it, we’re usually behind 2 or 3, maybe 4 weeks by the end of the year. In a 10-week season, that’s a lot.”

As a result, the Tigers have had a little extra time to work on specific things they might not get to this early.

“We’ve just had a lot more training outside at the track, like technical work, getting out of the blocks, handoffs, field event people,” Thorson said. “We’ve had some days where we’ve had to be inside, but for the most part we’ve got more done up to this point and time.”

Thorson said it’s always a bit challenging when dealing with the South Dakota spring weather.

“You plan ahead and you have a back-up plan,” Thorson said, “and then you have a back-up plan for the back-up plan.”

All the while, the key word is flexibility. Thorson said track provides good life lessons when it comes to unpredictability.

“It’s a good skill that we’re teaching these kids to be able to adapt for your situation,” he said. “Life doesn’t always go as chalk.”

While all sports are subject to the weather, it seems that spring sports often get hit the hardest when it comes to dealing with the elements.

“Track is a great sport, any outdoor sport really,” Thorson said, “but especially in the spring, you’ve got to learn to be adaptable for what God gives you.”

Thorson, who is also the leader of the Aqua Addicts waterski team in the summer and the Ipswich track and field coach in the fall, is accustomed to keeping an eye on the weather regardless of the season.

“My wife’s often joked and said your next job you could easily work for a weather station,” Thorson said. “I’m pretty good at it.”

While the Tigers are off to a solid start in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions so far this spring, Thorson doesn’t pay too much attention to the statewide leaders this early in the spring.

“I don’t get caught up too much in the leaderboard right now, because things change,” Thorson said. “You’ve got to focus on what you’re going to do every day. The leaderboard is always going to be changing.”

While Thorson has built the Ipswich programs into perennial powers, he said he is grateful for the opportunity.

“I just feel blessed that we get to go compete and we get to work with these kids,” Thorson said. “I’m just grateful for God allowing me to do this.”

While the names have changed through the years, the Tigers can always be found among the elite teams in the state.

“One of the most important lessons we can teach them in sports is how to work hard to achieve,” Thorson said, “and I think our kids are buying into that.”

LEADING THE WAY

There are four athletes who lead three open events in this week’s leaders.

Tate Grabow of Hill City leads the Class A boys’ 800-meter run, 1,600-meter run, and 3,200-meer run, Ellie Maddox of Sioux Falls Christian tops the Class A girls’ 800-meter run, 1,600-meter run, and 3,200-meter run, Emma Marshall of Centerville leads the Class B girls’ 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, and long jump, and Peyson O’Neill of Bennett County sets the standard in the Class B girls’ 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and high jump.

There are 10 athletes who lead a pair of open events, including Kyle Hettich of Ipswich in the Class B boys’ 100 and 400.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Sioux Falls Christian girls have gotten out of the blocks quickly this season and lead eight events in Class A in this week’s leaders.

Other team leaders include Harrisburg in Class AA boys (five events), Brandon Valley and Sioux Falls Lincoln in Class AA girls (four events each), Custer, Madison, and Sioux Valley in Class A boys (three events each), Ipswich and Colman-Egan in Class B boys (three events each), and Bennett County, Centerville, and Colman-Egan (three events each).