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Tennessee’s Stormy Track Finals: Lightning Halts Pole Vaults & High Jump

The final day of Tennessee’s high school track championships at Tom Black Track in Knoxville was anything but dry. Heavy rain turned the atmosphere into a soggy, lightning-laced waiting game, forcing multiple delays in the Class AAA championships.

Pole Vault Plight

• The boys’ pole vault managed just three attempts before officials pulled the plug due to lightning strikes.
• The girls’ pole vault never even got off the ground—the event was canceled before it could begin.

A Domino Effect of Delays

Athletes had no choice but to rewarm after the storm passed, only to face another setback when officials halted the boys’ high jump just as they were ready to compete.

A Statewide Storm Front

This wasn’t an isolated incident—spring sports across Tennessee faced similar disruptions the day before, with lightning already canceling Division II events.

A Season Hanging by a Thread

For organizers, this is a familiar struggle. With the spring sports season teetering on the edge, it seems Tennessee’s athletes are racing against both competitors and the weather.