PEARL - The winning time at Saturday's MHSAA state track and field meet was two hours ... as in a two-hour rain delay.

Meet officials, citing water-soaked conditions at the Pearl High School venue, postponed the completion of the Class 6A, 4A and 2A meets until 2 p.m. Monday.

"There are just too many adverse circumstances," MHSAA executive director Ennis Proctor said, moments after the decision to postpone the competition. "The pits are dangerous, the track is slippery. It wouldn't be fair.

"We are very disappointed. It's just unfortunate that the weather hit us like this."

The meet will resume with the running of the 100 meters.

Proctor said "scattered showers" were in the forecast for Monday.

"We're going to do the best we can to get it in," he said. "We hope everybody can get back here (for the meet)."

One down, two to go

Tupelo senior distance runner Max Holman won the 3,200 meters - before the rains came - for the third time in his prep career.

He covered the distance in 9 minutes, 43.78 seconds.

"I was hoping to get the class record, but the humidity made it hard," he said. "It's always hard to run the state meet because of the heat and humidity."

The class record is 9:34.26 set in 1992 by Forest Hill's Eric Johnson. The state record is 9:18.91 set in 2002 by East Central's Jake Raines.

Holman, an Ole Miss signee, will attempt to win the 1,600 meters - he's the defending champion - and the 800 meters when the meet resumes Monday.

This is his first season to compete in the 800 meters.

"I didn't know what to expect," he said. "I know you go out and run for your dear life. You can't go out too fast or you will hit the wall ... hard."

Ball burns 100 meters

Pontotoc's Rhandi Ball raced to her second straight victory in the girls 4A 100 meters moments before the rains came, winning in 12.45 seconds.

Her clocking was slower than last year's - a 12.28 - but she was pleased.

"I had a very good start today," she said. "The key is not to give up no matter where you are."

Saturday's only other area winner was New Albany's Zack Hand, who won the 4A shot put with a throw of 45 feet, 10.75 inches.

Contact Gene Phelps at 678-1593 or at gene.phelps@djournal.com.