Labor Day is considered the unofficial last day of summer.
But this year, it’s more like the last day of our early autumn.
The first week of fall sports was ushered in last week with some fall-like temperatures.
On the first Friday night of the football season, I was sitting in the open-air press box at Kiggins Bowl before the the 5 p.m. kickoff between Skyview and Walla Walla. I brought my jacket for when it got chilly later in the evening.
By kickoff, I was wearing my jacket.
On Saturday in Seattle, the Mountain View football team was delayed for two hours by a thunderstorm.
But after a drizzly Sunday, the warm-up starts on Labor Day. The first full-fledged week of fall high school sports will be greeted by temperatures in the 80s, capped by an 88-degree day Friday for the 55th annual Hudson’s Bay Run-A-Ree.
That wouldn’t be a first for the Run-A-Ree. But if you’re looking to get outside on Friday, you might want to check out the Run-A-Ree, the annual early-season preview of high school cross country in Clark County.
Battle Ground, Columbia River, Fort vancouver, Heritage, Hockinson, King’s Way Christian, Seton Catholic, Skyview, Stevenson and Union are scheduled to send runners to the Central Park area around Hudson’s Bay High School. The 5,000-meter course includes hay-bale obstacles and the ever-popular water hazard.
Races start at 3 p.m. Friday with the girls varsity race set for 4:30 p.m. and the boys varsity race at 5:05 p.m.
Others to watch
Five other events this week to keep an eye on.
• While some golf and soccer teams played last week, Tuesday marks the first full schedule of the fall sports calendar with volleyball, soccer, tennis and golf events. A good place to catch a lot of the action is McKenzie Stadium, which will host a tripleheader of girls soccer — Columbia River vs. Mountain View at 4 p.m.; Jesuit of Portland vs. Union at 6 p.m.; Fort Vancouver vs. Evergreen at 8 p.m.
• Golf fans might want to check out the Titan Cup at Camas Meadows on Wednesday. The Titan Cup is a four-team Ryder Cup-format event that will feature Camas, Columbia River, Skyview and Union. The event is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
• Woodland High School will unveil its new stadium on its new campus on Friday when the football team hosts La Center at 7 p.m.
• High school swimmers hit the pool for competition Thursday at the Mark Morris Jamboree at 4 p.m. in Longview. All Clark County programs are scheduled to attend.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached at (360) 735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.
