The Wawasee low hurdles drip from the constant pelting of rain Tuesday during the NLC dual between Wawasee and NorthWood. (Photos by Mike Deak)

SYRACUSE — When it rains in northern Indiana, it pours.

Another night of high school track faced less than stellar conditions as NorthWood and host Wawasee decided to forge ahead with its scheduled Northern Lakes Conference track meet Tuesday night. In many regards, the 73-59 final score by NorthWood over Wawasee was the brightest news of the night. At least they got it in.

“This was just nasty,” laughed a drenched Scott Lancaster while shuffling through materials in the press box following the meet. “It’s good to see some kids really take on weather like this and try to improve themselves.”

Wawasee senior Jen Slabaugh makes a dash for the line during the rainy 4×400 relay.

The rain only got heavier as the meet wore on from its 5 p.m. start, which had spitting precipitation move gradually heavier as the evening wore on. With it, performances were not close to sharp. But in a season that has afforded little time on the competition track for not only Wawasee, but all of the NLC, the two teams would take it.

Wawasee had a trio of double winners. Leading the field events on senior night was class representative Jordan Edington, who used her last showing at Warrior Field to win both the shot put (35’05”) and the discus (95’01.5″). Also grabbing 10 points was Catherine Yankosky, who won both the 100 dash (13.19) and 200 dash (28.78) in less than ideal sprinting conditions.

Courtney Linnemeier won a pair of races on her own, taking the 1600 (5:55.60) and 3200 (12:33.34) and contributing to an opening relay win in the 4×800 at 10:50. Linnemeier teamed with Jen Slabaugh, Madison Miller and Becky Snavely.

Shelby Swartz picked up her first career win in the 100 hurdles, clocking 17.88 in a mild surprise performance.

Shelby Swartz of Wawasee won her first career race in the 100 hurdles.

“Courtney ran well, Jen ran well, just trying to do things they needed to do to win races in the meet,” Lancaster said. “I think kids on the track did what they needed to do to put themselves in position to win. Shelby Swartz went out and ran the best hurdle race she has run since she has been here. That’s gratifying for me to see her win, because I know how hard she works.”

Lancaster, who admitted he would have rather ran in the rain and 60 degrees Tuesday night than wait it out for 45 degrees and clear on Wednesday, said he was impressed with his girls gutting out races in less than optimal conditions.

Catherine Yankosky of Wawasee zips past NorthWood’s Jessica Borkholder for a win in the 100-meter dash.

“Being able to compete in conditions like this,” began Lancaster, noting a few teams in the conference decided to wait until tomorrow. “The pole vault coach for NorthWood and I were talking, and I said it would serve them right if these are the conditions we have at conference. We have to practice in this, so we ran a meet in it. Just part of the deal right now.

“Their shoes and their socks are sloppy, and they have to run around the track with them. What did we want to accomplish running tonight? We have to learn to run in crap like this. It’s Indiana.”

Abby Adams led NorthWood with a win in the 400 (1:09.00) and helped the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams to wins. Sisters Jessica and Andrea Tuttle claimed wins in the long jump (14’10”) and pole vault (8’06”), respectively. The Panthers swept both the high jump and pole vault to help the point swing.

NorthWood have one NLC meet remaining, a date next Tuesday at Goshen with Memorial also in the mix. Wawasee will return to action Saturday as an entrant in the John Reed Relays hosted by East Noble and then compete in its final NLC primer next Tuesday at Northridge with Warsaw also working. The NLC championships are scheduled for May 7 at Warsaw.