Following directive from NCAA Board of Governors for each division to decide on the fate of regular season and postseason competition, Division 3 is first to announce cancellation of fall championships, followed quickly by Division 2; First time since 1958 without Division 2 national cross country final and first time since 1973 without Division 3 championship meet

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

In the aftermath of the NCAA Board of Governors deciding Wednesday to give each division the power to determine whether schools and conferences meet the proper requirements and guidelines to participate in regular season or postseason competition this fall, in addition to whether championship events should even be held, the NCAA Division 3 Presidents Council was quick to announce that all fall championships have been canceled as a result of remaining uncertainties surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.

A few hours later, the Division 2 Presidents Council followed suit, also announcing the cancellation of their seven fall championship events.

It will mark the first time since its inception in 1958 that the NCAA Division 2 Cross Country Championships will not be contested, along with the first time since 1973 there will not be a Division 3 national final in the fall.

Both championship meets were scheduled for Nov. 21 in Indiana. The Division 2 national final was expected to be held at Angel Mounds in Evansville, with the Division 3 championship event to be showcased at the LaVern Gibson Championship course in Terre Haute.

In order for fall championships to be held, the NCAA Board of Governors determined that at least 50 percent of eligible teams in a given sport must participate to merit a national playoff or final to be contested.

Prior to the announcements Wednesday, several Division 2 and 3 conferences had already made the decision to postpone or cancel fall sports. WHERE ALL NCAA CONFERENCES STAND ON FALL SPORTS

In Division 2, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference had delayed fall sports until Sept. 18.

The RMAC features the reigning women’s national cross country team and individual champions in Adams State and Stephanie Cotter, along with defending men’s national team champions Colorado Mines.

The Northeast-10 Conference, which boasts the defending Division 2 men’s individual national champion in Ezra Mutai from American International, had already announced the cancellation of all fall sports.

The Centennial Conference, which features reigning Division 3 women’s national team champions Johns Hopkins, had already decided to cancel fall sports. The conference had been exploring the possibility of moving some sports, including football, to the spring.

The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which boasts defending Division 3 men’s national team champions Pomona-Pitzer, had already canceled several fall sports. But cross country had the opportunity to continue if members schools were able to adhere to state guidelines.

The Liberty League, which includes Ithaca and last year’s Division 3 women’s individual champion Parley Hannan, had already announced the cancellation of fall sports.

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, including Carleton and last year’s Division 3 men’s individual runner-up Matthew Wilkinson, had already postponed all fall sports until 2021.

Divisions had been given until Aug. 21 by NCAA President Mark Emmert to reach their decisions.

The NCAA already canceled the Division 2 and Division 3 Indoor Track and Field Championships in March in Birmingham, Ala., and Winston-Salem, N.C., respectively, as well as the Division 2 and Division 3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May in Kingsville, Texas, and Rochester, N.Y., respectively.

With the announcements Wednesday, it will mark three consecutive seasons without a national final for several elite collegiate distance runners.