Athletes like Nick Linder are far from anonymous, even as they are not allowed to represent their schools in the winter season.
Even as we have celebrated state-record and national-leading performances by Ryen Frazier and Anna Cockrell, the observant among you may have noticed something different about them. Due to a change in NCISAA rules, these stars are no longer allowed to represent their schools during the indoor season.
Take the case of Nick Linder. The Providence Day senior beat Philip Hall in the David Oliver Classic Mile, running 4:14.73 to rank US #18 at that distance and NC #8 All-Time (when converted to 1600). Against college competition the weekend before, he ran 1:54.07 for the 800, good for US #9 this season and NC #4 All-Time, and he also has a 2:31.11 NC #8 All-Time in the 1000 on his resume. He is clearly competitive on the national level, and should be a factor in either the 800 or the Mile (or both) if he chooses to go to indoor nationals. And yet, divorced from the red & blue jersey that we have all grown accustomed to seeing on him, it may have been harder for fans to spot him during any of these races.
The NCISAA has never sponsored an indoor track championship, but this year they classified indoor track as a separate season from outdoor track for the first time. This change was made at the request of the coaches, who voted for it at their outdoor state meet last spring. Previously, indoor track was considered part of the preseason for a single track & field season, and under that ruling NCISAA athletes were allowed to represent their school. Now, with the designation of indoor as a separate season that is not supported by the NCISAA, that opportunity is gone.
Marcus Abraham can't wear his Victory Christian jersey when throwing indoors, but the rule's affects go beyond that.
The implications run much deeper than not being able to wear school uniforms. Travel expenses to meets cannot be paid by NCISAA schools now, and they cannot compete in relays (unless a meet accepts unattached relays, which is rare and somewhat strange). Furthermore, the new rule limited the field of options for these athletes, as several indoor meets (including most in Virginia) do not accept unattached athletes at all. I get the sense that these consequences were not fully expected when the coaches voted as they did last spring, and that many were caught by surprise by the resulting details that were sent out by the NCISAA in the fall.
While Nick's coach, Ben Hovis, acknowledges that the new rule has caused some problems and disappointments, he also notes one advantage: being forced to run unattached made collegiate races a better option, and they come with a higher level of competition as well as more depth in Nick's range. Nonetheless, I am sure that Nick, Ryen, Anna, and many other private-school athletes are looking forward to donning their school uniforms again for the start of spring season.