On Thursday morning the NJSIAA Cross Country Committee, made up of NJSIAA Officials and coaches from around the state, met to discuss particulars about the upcoming fall season.
Through our notes below you'll find items detailing what cross country may look like, an announcement that indoor State Relays have been reinstated, winter and spring track and field dates, and a move to Rutgers University for the outdoor Meet of Champions!
Related: No Groups or Meet of Champions This Fall
The committee expressed the importance for the sports community, student athletes, coaches, and parents, to work together to make this happen, to take safety protocols seriously to avoid further cancellations or setbacks.
Cross Country
A look at what some of the season might look like.
NJSIAA General Notes
- Weekends of Nov 14th and 21st are reserved for NJSIAA Sectionals. Previously announced no Groups or MOCs this fall.
- NJSIAA will allow schools to opt out by 10/26 if they no longer want to be in the state meets. Need to know who opts out for meet preparation purposes.
- Classifications will be based on 2018 release.
- Non-Publics will have North & South A & B Sectionals.
- Sectional locations same as last year.
- Entries $14 per individual, $140 per team.
- Trophies and medals will not be presented after races, will be mailed to schools.
- Teams will be limited to 10 people (7 runners, 2 coaches, 1 team manager - per gender)
- COVID-19 Safety Guidelines will be included in regulations.
- Athletic Trainers: Premier Athletic Trainer Service
- There will be an opt out date for schools to meet if they no longer want to be in Sectional meet.
- Forms will move online, the sportsmanship waiver and invoice will be found through online registration on NJ MileSplit. Only paper you have to mail is the check and printed invoice from the site after entering.
- Anyone interested in becoming a meet official please reach out.
Meet Numbers and Format
Allowed one preseason scrimmage after six days of practice and one day of rest.
Per week in the regular season teams are allowed one dual meet and one invitational, or two duals and no invitational. Batch races have no more than four teams compete at the same time.
Meet Formats
- 6' boxes or painted dots on the starting line.
- Runners will be lined up single file 1 through 7.
- State Sectionals: chips, bibs, video will be used at finish to avoid bunching at the chute. Multiple chutes will be utilized to keep athletes moving through finish area.
- Dual/Tri/Batch Races: If chips aren't an option, get creative to keep from bunching runners in the finish chute. Possibly bring back numbered popsicle sticks for example to help with quick scoring and exiting.
- No Tents: No camping out this year. Arrive, warm up, run, and then quick warm down. At Sectionals each group will have two hour window to prepare, run, leave.
- Arriving Teams: Do not arrive early to the site.
Winter Track & Field
State Relays have been reinstated! Back in May due to concerns budgeting the extra sessions required for social distancing it was announced the relays were cancelled, however thanks to extra dates for the Group Championships at Ocean Breeze this relieved constraints at the Bubble in Toms River allowing Relays and Sectionals to be spread out effectively.
Relay Dates - Bubble
- Wednesday Jan 13th - Monday Jan 18th
- Non-Publics will have own relay dates.
- Times and rotation being developed.
Sectional Dates - Bubble
- Thursday Feb 4th - Sunday Feb 7th
- Thursday Feb 11th - Sunday Feb 14th
- Times and rotation being developed.
Group Dates - Ocean Breeze
- Wednesday Feb 17th, Friday 19th, Saturday 20th
- Times and rotation being developed.
Meet of Champions - Ocean Breeze
- Sunday March 7th at 10:00am
Spring Track & Field
Sectional Championships
- At this point, will remain as originally planned from spring 2020
- Non-Public A & B North & South - June 1st & 2nd
- Public Schools - June 4th & 5th
Group Championships
- June 11th & 12th
- Pennsauken HS - Group 2, 3, NPA
- Franklin Twp HS - Groups 1, 4, NPB
Meet of Champions
- Tentatively Wednesday June 16th at *Rutgers University*
On Thursday morning the NJSIAA Cross Country Committee, made up of NJSIAA Officials and coaches from around the state, met to discuss particulars about the upcoming fall season.
Through our notes below you'll find items detailing what cross country may look like, an announcement that indoor State Relays have been reinstated, winter and spring track and field dates, and a move to Rutgers University for the outdoor Meet of Champions!
