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Is your meet on or off? Canceled, rescheduled or postponed with a future date TBD? Please let us know via Twitter DM (@MilesplitCA) or email to jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv.
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The immediate and longterm future of the 2020 high school track and field season continues to evolve as various levels of leadership around California grapple with the challenges presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how best to combat the spread of the global outbreak described by the World Health Organization as a pandemic.
We have seen a rash of track and field meets canceled across the state on Thursday in response to Wednesday's announcement by the California Department of Public Health advising that "Large gatherings that include 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled."
Thursday afternoon, California Governor Gavin Newsom termed that recommendation a "policy" in a Tweet that said, in part: "California has put out a new policy ending mass gatherings of 250+ people to slow the spread of coronavirus."
Across the state we've seen various school districts issue bans on all sporting events through at least the end of March with some pushing through April 13.
Commissioners from California's 10 CIF sections are scheduled to meet with State Commissioner Ron Nocetti early next week to discuss the status of the spring sports schedule. Read more.
In the interim, among the dozens of invitationals we've already learned have been canceled or postponed, are some of the most attractive of the spring season: Redondo Nike Track Festival, Dublin Distance Fiesta. Distance Meet of Champions, Stanford Invitational, California Relays, Laguna Beach Trophy Invitational, Mt. Carmel Invitational, West Coast Relays and the Mt. SAC Relays.
The Redondo Nike Track Festival, a two-day showcase for many of Southern California's top prep track and field talent scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed, Meet Director Bob Leetch confirmed Thursday morning. Leetch said he was hoping to find a date in April in which to reschedule the meet.
The Dublin Distance Fiesta, scheduled for March 20-21, has rescheduled for the end of April, per Meet Director Chris Williams.
The Distance Meet of Champions, scheduled for March 28 at Azusa Pacific University, was been canceled, Meet Director Tim O'Rourke announced Thursday.
The Mt. SAC Relays issued a release that the meet would be canceled in its normal format, including all high schools. However, Meet Director Doug Todd said Thursday night that he has been given approval to offer Professional elite-only competition but without spectators. The goal, which he reiterated from the release, is to "provide elite athletes an opportunity to obtain qualifying marks for important
postseason competitions, including the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games." Todd said more specifics would be forthcoming.
The Mt. Carmel Invitational, the top meet in the San Diego Section that also attracts top athletes and programs from beyond the San Diego County borders, also canceled, Meet Director and longtime Mt. Carmel coach Dennis McClanahan confirmed in an email to coaches. As is the challenge with most of the meets that have canceled, rather than postponed, finding an alternate date in the current calendar is a challenge.
"With the current San Diego Section schedule the way it is rescheduling does not really present itself well to have the meet this year so it will be canceled for 2020," McClanahan wrote. "We expect to return at our normal date in 2021."
The Clovis Unified School District issued a statement Thursday afternoon that all "activities, competitions and events have been postponed" through April 13. The first bullet point in the release: "All school and club athletic competitions."
That's also the case for Fresno Unified and Kern County, as just a sampling of what's going on across the Golden State.
The Southern Section, by far the largest of the state's 10 sections, sent an email early Thursday afternoon from Commissioner Rob Wigod, addressing questions about the section's response to the crisis. It said, in part:
- We believe that the important decisions regarding school closures, canceling/postponing athlete events, etc., should be made by local schools and school districts, in concert with their local and state health officials and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. That is the most efficient plan of action going forward and we have full confidence in our local leaders to make the correct decisions in keeping their students and families safe. We will respect and support those decisions an stand by to help them in away we we possible can.
- As of this moment, there is no plan by the CIF Southern Section to cancel or reschedule upcoming events. Again, individual school site administrators and their leadership will guide us in this regard.
- If this situation continues into the spring championships, when those events come directly under the control of the CIF Southern Section Office, we will address those concerns in advance of that time.
The following is a sampling of meets that have been reported as canceled or postponed related to COVID-19. No invitationals are still scheduled for this weekend. Further, and likely complete, cancellations/postponements through March are expected. If you are aware of a meet scheduled in March that is allowed to take place, please let us know.
CANCELED
MARCH 13-14
- Aggie HS Open at UC Davis (SJ)
- Aragon Don Invitational at Aragon HS (CC), San Mateo
- Bronco Invite at Rancho Bernardo HS (SD)
- City of Angels at Marshall HS (LA), Los Angeles
- First Chance Track Meet at Sunnyside HS (CS), Fresno
- George Olsen Invitational at Coalinga HS (CS)
- Irvine Invitational at Irvine HS (SS)
- Jim Polite Walnut Invitational at Walnut HS (SS)
- K-Bell Invitational at Wesmont HS (CC), Campbell - Report
- Lancer Invitational at Cordova HS (SJ), Rancho Cordova
- Marsh Creek Track & Field Invitational at Freedom HS (NC), Oakley
- Martinez/Tim Bruder Relays at Alhambra HS (CC), Martinez -- Link
- Merced County Championships at Golden Valley HS (SJ)
- Occidental Distance Carnival and Spring Break Classic, Occidental College, Los Angeles
- Pacific Coast Invitational at Bolsa Grande HS (SS), Garden Grove
- Redondo Nike Track Festival at Redondo Union HS (SS), Redondo Beach - Postponed in hopes of rescheduling.
- Rosemead Invitational & Distance Carnival at Rosemead HS (SS)
- Simi Valley Invitational at Simi Valley HS (SS)
- Title IX Invitational at American River College, Sacramento
- Tri-County Small Schools Invitational at Moorpark HS (SS)
- Ventura Invitational at Ventura HS (SS)
- Wildcat Relays at Watsonville HS (CC) -- Postponed. Reschedule date TBD.
- Wolfpack Relays at Merrill West HS (SJ), Tracy
MARCH 20-21
- Avis Kelley Invitational at Gilroy HS (CC)
- California Relays at Wilson HS (SS), Long Beach
- Easter Relays at Santa Barbara City College (SS)
- Eddie Hart Invitational at Pittsburg HS (NC)
- Gateway To Track & Field at Buchanan HS (CS)
- Jaguar Invitational at Kimball HS (SJ), Tracy - Postponed. Reschedule date TBD.
- Maurice Greene Invitational at Oaks Christian HS (SS), Westlake Village
- Larry White Invitational at Hanford HS (CS)
- St. Francis Invitational at St. Francis HS (CC), Mountain View -- Postponed. Reschedule date TBD.
- San Leandro Invitational at San Leandro HS (NC)
- San Mateo Bearcat Twilight Invitational at San Mateo HS (CS)
- Trophy Invitational at Laguna Beach HS (SS)
MARCH 28
- Bay Area Relays at Foothill HS (NC), Pleasanton -- Postponed. Reschedule date TBD.
- Distance Meet of Champions (SS) at Azusa Pacific University
- Don Christopher Garlic Classic at Christopher HS (CC), Gilroy
- Lemoore Invitational at Lemoore HS (CS)
- Mt. Carmel Invitational at Mt. Carmel HS (SD), San Diego
- Oakland Invitational Relays at Laney College (OK)
- Reedley Track Festival at Reedley HS (CS)
- Santa Rosa Twilight at Maria Carrillo HS (NC)
- Stapleton Relays at Antioch HS (NC)
APRIL 3-4
- Stanford Invitational
April 16-17-18
- Mt. SAC Relays at Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut -- Reconfigured schedule for elite athletes only but without spectators.
RESCHEDULED
April 4
- Rancho Cucamonga Invitational at Rancho Cucamonga HS (SS) - (from March 14) - Tentative reschedule date
April 11
- Firebird Relays at Fremont HS (CC), Sunnyvale - (from March 28) - Tentative reschedule date
April 18
- Randy Sturgeon Invitational at Granite Bay HS (SJ) - (from March 14)
- West Coast Relays at Buchanan HS (CS), Clovis - (from April 4)
April 24-25
- Dublin Distance Fiesta at Dublin HS (NC) - (from March 20-21) - Sprint/jumping events on Friday, distance and throwing events on Saturday
Is your meet on or off?
Canceled, rescheduled or postponed with a future date TBD?
Please let us know via Twitter DM (@MilesplitCA) or email to jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv.
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Updated 3/14 at 7:30 p.m.