It was by every measure the perfect evening for running. The USATF Association meet at John Muir High School provided an exceptional backdrop for competition. The sunset behind the San Gabriel Mountains was beautiful and the temperatures mild. And then, just as the gun was about to sound to begin the first heat of 400M races for 13-14 Girls the lights went out. The stadium went pitch black and the runners on the field and on the track were instructed to freeze in their places.

The lights never came back on. None of the 400M runners older than thirteen would compete in their prelims last night.  The joy of earning your advancement to the finals was now gone, stolen by poor planning. Today, their races will be reseeded and their finals will be based on times. Life will go on, of course, and the only consolation will be that they will all have a nice little story to tell about that time the lights went out.