East Palestine High School senior Mia Lee trains for track, Monday, March 6, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio. Athletes are navigating spring sports following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern freight train derailment. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — As spring sports get underway at East Palestine High School in Ohio, organizers are trying to create normalcy for student-athletes while cleanup from the February train derailment and toxic chemical burn continues just over a mile away. Environmental officials say testing shows the air and water there are safe, but health and safety concerns have disrupted the sports schedule. Nearly a dozen schools have pulled out of the invitational track meets East Palestine hosts. Athletic director Dwayne Pavkovich says he understands why they have reservations. But when other schools ask what they can do to help, his answer is simple: Come and play us.