My Oh, My Oh, My!! What A Day At The Track
2026 Aaron and Marie Jones Invitational was Top Flight
The weather was a concern. A big concern, considering the two preceding days leading up to Saturday’s Aaron and Marie Jones Invitational Track Meet hosted by the McKenzie Community Track and Field organization. Maybe Thunderbird was stretching his wings, making folks think Saturday’s meet would be a test for the 25 teams and their nearly 800 athletes competing. One of the few weather events that stop an athletic event is thunder and lightning and well, that’s was on most folk’s minds early Saturday morning. A start that was a bit cool and a little misty, but Old Mother Nature seemed to take a personal interest in the AMJ Invitational and blessed the day with a dose of warming sun and blue sky teased with gray-white clouds, the latter more worried about stacking up against Faith, Hope, and Charity. And those Three Sisters were willing to wrap their arms around the intruders and even shove a few on up the Volcanic Chain. So, it is with deep gratitude that we say thanks to a great day for competing track and field. To be sure, this was a remarkable day. Over 300 Personal Bests were set by the student/athletes competing. And the meet announcer, Neil Barrett, was busy researching the archives and announcing the 18 new AMJ Invitational meet records!!
It goes without saying that the McKenzie Community Track and Field board members and all the incredible community volunteers hit this one out of the park! And, holy cow, what a Park, indeed! Do we dare take just a minute to pump our chests before we settle back to a more respectful thankfulness for our beautiful and iconic Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track venue? Anyhow you look at it, Saturday’s meet was a huge success, full of great competition, smiles, hamburgers and hot dogs, a few frogs, and three steeplechase races.
When the last race was run and the final discus athlete threw her final plate, Thunderbird had his way, racing across Hi Yu ridge from Oakridge, throwing down his driving rain and high winds. Only, he was late to the party, and only caught a couple of fellows still tightening the tarps on the high jump and pole vault pads. It was all-good, we needed the rain.