While there is rain in the immediate forecast, the weather conditions have been better than normal for track and field athletes so far this spring. The Ipswich Early Bird meet actually took place this year, something that seldom happens with the early April meet. “I’ve been here since ‘99,” said Ipswich coach Todd Thorson, “and this is maybe the second time we’ve had it, maybe.” The unusually mild spring has put area squads a bit ahead of schedule at this point. “We’re typically behind. Typically, if it’s cold we drive south three hours, and the people in the south drive south three hours, they’re in warmer weather and we’re not,” Thorson said. “Typically, if you track it, we’re usually behind 2 or 3, maybe 4 weeks by the end of the year. In a 10-week season, that’s a lot.” As a result, the Tigers have had a little extra time to work on specific things they might not get to this early. “We’ve just had a lot more training outside a