The starting time of the Downtown Lawrence Olympic Shot Put has been moved up 90 minutes to 4:30 p.m. Friday in an attempt to beat the rain, according to the event’s organizer.

Bob Sanner, executive director of Lawrence Sports Corporation, also said the Expo Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds will be “set up and ready to go,” in the event weather forces the competition indoors.

Construction on the shot put sector on Eighth Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets will go ahead as planned Thursday, according to Sanner.

“Either way, the show must go on,” Sanner said of the seventh annual event.