IHSA Board of Directors approves modified state series for fall sports including Cross Country

By Michael Newman

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The IHSA Board of Directors met for their monthly meeting announcing late Monday their plan for a modified state series for the fall.

The approved plan for Cross Country would be for holding regional meets. It looks like most of the meets will be held on October 24, the last scheduled day of the Cross-Country season.

It would mean that a state meet at Detweiller Park would not happen.

According to the IHSA:

“The Board will continue to look at the postseason options by sport and season as the school year progresses, so they can accurately gauge the allowable IDPH options and most current COVID-19 data.”

IHSA Full Announcement (August 24, 2020)

“The health and safety of the student-athletes, their coaches, and their school communities has been our priority from the start of the pandemic,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “Throughout the spring and summer, we looked for ways to reengage student-athletes with their peers and coaches, and our membership has shared countless positive experiences from that initial ‘return to play’ period. We have found similar value in being able to conduct fall sports, and believe the participants deserve a culminating experience if we can offer it safely.”

The IHSA Board also approved a $100 state series entry fee for any school entering a team or individual in any of the fall sports.

The IHSA plan is similar to what has happened in New Jersey and New York for Cross Country this fall while the United States tries to navigate through the COVID-19 coronavirus.

New Jersey announced earlier in the summer that they would have a reduced schedule. Their season would end with sectional meets in November and without group and their year ending Meet of Champions.

New York has the option to hold their cross country season in March after their indoor track season ends. If they have a fall cross country season, no state meet, or federation championships would be held. The 11 sections would have the option to hold a sectional championship.

Maryland and the District of Columbia have cancelled their cross-country season for the 2020-2021 school year. 8 states currently will be holding their state cross-country season in the winter/spring of 2021.