Metro Conference Track Meet

Dad, Julia and Veronica headed out to Burke Stadium Tuesday to watch the girls' cousin, Josef, compete in the pole vault at the Metro Conference track meet.

The event started at 3:30 p.m. and we arrived around 4. The bar was going up, but not so high that Josef would already be out of the competition (or so we thought). We saw him sitting on the infield concentrating (or so we thought - again). So while we waited for him to get ready, we timed several of the running races going on.

Dad brought a stopwatch for each girl and taught them to watch for the smoke, instead of waiting for the sound of the starter's pistol. Julia was pretty good at it, while Veronica enjoyed swinging and climbing on the railings.

After about an hour of watching, the girls needed a drink. So we walked all the way around the track and up to the car. When we returned to the far side of the track to await Josef's attempts, a cover was being pulled over the pole vault mat. The event was finished. What had happened to Josef, we wondered.

It wasn't until later that we found out that he had missed on the opening height. That was unfortunate. But we still had fun watching everyone run and jump. (The girls were also fascinated by a dead bird that was lying on the sidewalk.)