www.johnsonpublications.zenfolio.com Brooke Robertson | Johnson Publications
PC track athletes (l-r): Trye Hickey, Kyler Bullock, Irvin Reyes and Alex Patrick, along with the rest of the team, had their first day of outdoor practice on Monday after two weeks of practicing indoors due to cold weather. It was short lived, as the weather will force them back indoors the rest of the week.
Winter season going out with a bang
Spring is expected to arrive next week with temps in the low 50s, but not before a large farewell statement from its predecessor.
On Tuesday, March 12, National Weather Service North Platte Meteorologist Nathan Jurgensen said Perkins County was right on the edge of an intense storm system that will track across the Central Plains.
While on Tuesday it looked like the storm would hit more west of Perkins County, Jurgensen said that could change.
Freezing rain was expected to begin this morning across northwest Nebraska, changing to heavy snow with north winds gusting over 50 mph. The changeover will spread south and east through western and north central Nebraska today and tonight. The snow will lessen tomorrow but strong and high winds are expected to continue throughout the day.
While the northwest Sandhills are expected to receive up to two feet of snow, Perkins County is expected to receive anywhere from two to six inches.
Jurgensen said that amount could change depending on how the storm develops.
“This is a very strong dynamic storm and it all depends on how the storms behave Wednesday afternoon as they develop. It may not be something we know until it actually starts occurring,” he said.
Stay tuned to weather.gov/northplatte or NWS North Platte’s Facebook page for updates.
Weather affects practice
With temps barely reaching above freezing since PC spring sports began on Feb. 25, practice has been held indoors.
“Organized chaos,” said Head Track Coach Shayne Hite of practicing inside.
The first time they’ve been able to hold practice outside was Monday and Tuesday of this week.
Hite said in his 25 years as a coach here, this is the longest they’ve had to train indoors. He said the toughest part has been being creative with the workouts.
“There is only so much you can do indoors and only so far you can run. The field events have probably suffered the most so far. We just don’t have much we can do indoors for the field events,” said Hite.
He said the athletes have been resilient and pushing themselves to get in shape for their first meet next week.
While they were able to get outside Monday and Tuesday, the expected weather will force them back inside for the rest of this week.
PCS Golf Coach Troy Kemling said Monday was their first day of practice on the course.