State Track Meet Back on June 19 : High school sports: CIF reverses itself, rescheduling event after canceling it because of rain last Saturday.

The final events of the State track and field meet, canceled last Saturday after a morning of heavy rain, have been unexpectedly rescheduled for June 19 at Cerritos College.

Thomas Byrnes, CIF commissioner, denied giving in to public pressure by reversing his earlier decision.

“This decision is very consistent with our previous pattern of doing what is the best and safest for our kids,” he said. “Canceling the meet was the best thing we could have done at the time, and holding it two weeks later is still in the best interests of everyone.”

Although several details remain to be worked out, the meet will follow the previous time schedule of field events beginning at 3 p.m. and running events at 4.

The State meet, which has never been canceled because of weather in its 75-year history, began with preliminaries last Friday at Cerritos College. But it was called off Saturday when officials judged the facility unsafe because of the rain.

Byrnes announced the cancellation an hour before the finals were to have begun, and the stadium gates were then locked. The weather later cleared and the track dried. Many parents, coaches, athletes and fans were critical of the decision, saying it was hasty.

The commissioner reiterated Monday that the decision stood and the meet would not be rescheduled because of travel logistics.

Pressure mounted Tuesday, however, when the Central Coast Section authored a proposal to reschedule the meet for June 19.

“After talking with members of our executive committee, we were very concerned how the cancellation affected student-athletes and what kind of a black eye it left on the CIF,” said Nancy Blaser, commissioner of the Central Coast Section, which extends from north of San Luis Obispo to San Jose. “After a day of serious talks, we concluded the best thing would be to have the meet after all. We sent the proposal out Wednesday morning and then sat back and waited.

“Obviously, we’re elated at the outcome.”

After receiving the proposal, Byrnes polled the CIF’s 10 sections. He said nine of them favored rescheduling the meet. He spoke with members of his executive committee Thursday morning before accepting the proposal.

News of the rescheduling was met with mixed reaction.

All-American sprinter Marion Jones of Thousand Oaks High was elated and said she plans to run. She and many of the state’s other top athletes were scheduled to compete in the Keebler International Prep Invitational in Chicago next weekend.

“I don’t think the Keebler people are going to be real happy about this,” Jones said. “But I feel like my priorities should be more with the State championships than with an invitational.”

Ron Tatum, boys’ and girls’ coach at Inglewood Morningside, said it will be difficult to refocus athletes who have turned their attention toward graduation and family vacations.

Byrnes said the CIF plans to help schools defray travel and lodging costs, since they are being asked to come back a second time.

Qualifiers who choose to skip the meet will not be replaced.

Times staff writer John Ortega contributed to this story.