April 2nd, 4pm
April 2nd, 3pm
Per the latest announcement from Gov. Holcomb, school will remain closed through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Students will continue to use e-learning/virtual instruction for the remainder of the year.
At this time, we are waiting on an official statement from the IHSAA. With students not in the building learning, and access to many facilities at nearly every school statewide for the rest of the school year closed off, it is certain that spring sports can not happen. Per a tweet from Kyle Neddenriep with the IndyStar, the IHSAA is discussing this afternoon the future of spring sports.
Based on the information available on the IHSAA site, it appears this would be the first time in the 117 years (boys) and 47 years (girls) that the state championships have been canceled. The IHSAA does hold events after schools have let out for the year and over winter and spring breaks.
April 1st, 4pm
As of Tuesday afternoon, Indiana University has suspended all on campus events through July 31st due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the state of Indiana. This means the IHSAA State T&F Championships will not be able to be held in Bloomington this fall. The last time the state meet was held somewhere other than the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex was in 2003, when it was at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
At this time, the IHSAA still is planning to hold the state tournament pending any decisions on schools resuming session this year. Member schools will be called on the assist in the hosting if the tournament is still able to happen.
Bobby Cox, the IHSAA commissioner, said in an email Wednesday morning.
"The IHSAA is still optimistic that an abbreviated spring sports season may be conducted. There will be many adjustments if we are able to bring our students back together and participate. As you mentioned, Indiana University has closed their campus to outside camps, clinics and events which precludes the track and field state finals from being held in Bloomington. We will rely on our member schools to assist with venues should we have the opportunity to conduct our tournament series events.
There is no specific date or timetable with regard to any announcement concerning spring sports. The Association monitors the events surrounding COVID-19 daily and will adhere to any federal, state and local restrictions in place. Our utmost concern continues to reside with the health and safety of our student athletes, coaches and fans."
With IU-Bloomington out of the mix to host this year, and by the sounds of it other colleges in Indiana as well. We know ask the question of which high school venues have the space and means to be able to host a state meet if they are called on to assist in this?
The last time an Indiana high school hosted the meet was in 1997 when North Central in Indianapolis hosted. They still have a great facility and likely the means to put together an organized meet for this year if they were asked to host.
On Twitter, Merrillville High School coaches have been vocal about willing to host should schools go back and they are asked. Logistically though, a school that far north may be a tough sell to host the state meet. For Evansville area athletes that's about a 5 hour drive. Most Indianapolis athletes, that would be just about a 3 hour drive and just a little less for the Fort Wayne area athletes. The Region athletes though would surely love having a very short drive.
Many other schools would likely step up to the plate if the IHSAA were to come asking for schools that have the size and ability to do so on short notice. Likely centrally located schools would be the first ones asked as that tends to be the area where a majority of state events are held for all IHSAA events, with softball and cross country being the furthest state championships from Indianapolis.
As new information comes on the status of the 2019-2020 spring sports season, we will be sure to update. Stay tuned to Indiana MileSplit for all your coverage.