Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

How can it be? The Kansas Relays are this weekend, and the forecast calls for almost no chance of rain in Lawrence.

As of Wednesday, the only rain in the forecast was 10 percent or less for today. That means the chances are good that a new pole vault event will go off as scheduled this evening in a west Lawrence parking lot. The prospects are even better for Friday’s downtown shot put event and the bulk of the competition, which will be held at Rock Chalk Park.

The invitational shot put event has become a popular Relays tradition in downtown Lawrence. This year, 10 athletes, including eight who are ranked among the top 20 throwers in the world, will be on hand for the competition, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. Eighth Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets will be closed to traffic to accommodate the event, which usually draws large crowds of spectators both on ground level and in buildings that surround the venue. It’s a fun evening that brings many people to downtown Lawrence to watch the athletes and then enjoy all that the area has to offer.

The success of the shot put competition inspired Relays organizers to take another event out of Rock Chalk Park and into the community. The invitational “street vault” is planned tonight in the parking lot on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive. A runway and pit will be installed in the lot and the public is invited to attend. Competitors will include a couple of former NCAA champion vaulters.

Decathlon and heptathlon competitions began at Rock Chalk on Wednesday and a full slate of college and high school events is scheduled through Saturday evening, ending with a fireworks show at 8 p.m.

This is the 89th edition of the Kansas Relays and the third year the event will be held at Rock Chalk Park. We welcome all the track and field athletes to Lawrence and hope they and their fans enjoy the new venue and public events, as well as the long tradition of the Kansas Relays.