Heat Disrupts Shadow Hills Track Meet, but Athletes Make It to Prom—and Take the Crown

The Coachella Valley’s student athletes experienced a whirlwind of emotions over the weekend. Shadow Hills High School’s track and field team traveled to Yorba Linda for the CIF Division III prelims, but Mother Nature had other plans.

Events were suspended around 12:30 p.m. due to excessive heat. As the hours dragged on with no end in sight, the athletes were left in limbo. By 2 p.m., many faced a difficult choice: wait indefinitely for the competition to resume or head back home to attend their school prom.

Coach Richie DeTamble shared his team’s difficult experience. “Half my team was not able to compete,” he said. “Some of the kids were very apologetic, but they had nothing to be sorry for. These are teenagers trying to balance everything—sports, family, school, and special moments like prom.”

While the day was a disappointment in terms of competition, there was a bright ending for Shadow Hills athletes Sergio Gomez and Annette Cano. The pair made it back to the desert just in time for prom—and were crowned prom king and queen.

“Congrats to Sergio and Annette. You both looked great, and I’m glad there was a happy ending to the story,” DeTamble added.

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