By Ray Hamill — The Humboldt-Del Norte League runners were literally left standing at the starting line, when their North Coast Section cross country championships were canceled at the last minute on Tuesday.

The section managed to get five of the 10 scheduled races completed at Hayward, before the air quality dropped below acceptable levels.

And the Division-IV girls race, featuring runners from Arcata, Fortuna, Eureka and Del Norte, was just about to get under way when the decision was made, with the runners at the starting line, including three-time H-DNL league champion Riley Martel-Phillips of Arcata.

The H-DNL boys involved also had their races canceled.

The poor air quality throughout much of the state has been caused by the ongoing wildfires, and has wreaked havoc with the NCS playoff scheduling in several sports.

With the CIF state cross country race just four days away in Fresno, there is no time for a make-up date for the NCS, with an advancement committee now deciding which section runners from the canceled races move on.

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