May 27, 2000 at Tempe AZ
DONNA ON THE SIDE at the
Great Southwest Classic
Part 1
by Donna Dye
The Great Southwest Track and Field Classic takes place in the Grand
Canyon State, in Tempe, Arizona, on the campus of Arizona State
University. Picture Disc 3 -15. What a great place for track athletes-to
dream the dream of a college track career. But how do they do it in this
heat, I thought? As an easterner now from Maryland and formerly from
Detroit and Chicago, I marvel at how these kids perform in the middle of
the desert. Some told me while it is hot here, it is a "dry"
heat! Others told me it helps when you're born here. Drinking lots of
water is a must. Starting the meet at 4:30p.m. also helps. Well, O.K. but
somehow my face got sunburned in late afternoon even though I wore a 48
rated sunscreen! My hat is off to all of them.
Track fans have a different kind of thirst anyway
THE SCENERY
I have a love for gardening so I'm always looking at flora wherever I
go. Tempe provided lots to look at: Banyon, Olive and Palm trees line
streets and pools. Disc 3-9 Home front gardens can be grass (must be
transplanted easterners) or stones and pebbles dotted with specimen
plantings of yucca, Agave, and others things I couldn't identify.
All along the freeways, cactus stand tall! But the best of the vegetation
for me were the bougainvillea that was plentiful. Desert yes! But
there is plenty of color and beauty:
Yucca, stone & cactus garden
All cactus
Bougainvillea
THE SCENE
Meet day was a clear and beautiful day with a high temperature of 103
and a low of 78.
The track facility at Sun Angel Stadium is first rate
Shaved ice stand is popular aid to keeping cool
PARENTS & FANS
Dotsy Tierny and friends came to watch and cheer on Robin
Tierny. Robin, a junior from Cibola High, Yuma AZ, helped Arizona win
the 4x800. Her split was 2.16. Robin is a poised young lady. Good Luck to
you next year.
The Lispeth Nutt Family. Lispeth, a junior from North
Canyon AZ finished 8th in the 3200.
Candy and Robert Argo, from Nevada. Candy proudly wears Tracy Argo's
Triple Jump Gold Medal. After all, parents play a part too! These are
delightful people who take being track parents seriously. Candy patrols
the sidelines to watch for tips to pass on to Tracy.
Go
to Great Southwest Part 2
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