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New England States Proceed With Caution Into Cross Country Season With Uncertainty

Published by
DyeStat.com   Oct 4th 2020, 4:04pm
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High School Cross Country In The Northeast Focused on 'Carpe Diem'

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

At Norton High in Massachusetts this fall, the cross country team’s mantra is: Flexibility, Empathy and Carpe Diem.

Those three ideas seem to embody what many high school teams across the country have adapted to this season. Running in a pandemic, where the Coronavirus’ lethal impact can shift daily, has meant an emotional rollercoaster of a season with a sometimes undefined schedule.

For many of the states in the Northeast, the season has begun and yet there is uncertainty over the championship postseason. Kent Taylor, the cross country coach at Norton, said that’s why they chose those thoughts  to serve as a reminder that very little is set in stone. 

“The athletes have been incredible thus far,” Taylor said. “With all the rules we have to follow masks, pods, social distancing, etc. they have taken it in stride with our mantras in mind.”

As of Oct. 4, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maryland and Delaware have all committed to some form of a state meet. 

“As of now, our state meet is planned,” said Scott Bliss, coach at Champlain Valley Union in Vermont. “Our division numbers aren’t that big, so I'm really hoping we’ll try and keep it as normal as possible.”

In Maine, there are no set firm plans, but there is an ongoing effort to get some semblance of a postseason together. Jorma Kurry, coach at Falmouth High, and Glendon Rand, meet director for the Maine Festival of Champions, are the liaisons between coaches and the Maine Principals Association. Kurry is optimistic a postseason will happen in some form. 

“We are planning as though there is one and the kids on our team will race in some way at the end of the season, regardless of the situation,” Kurry said. “Obviously, we hope it's somewhat traditional, but we'll be flexible and make the best of it.”

New York and New Jersey will not have state championship meets and Massachuestts has not yet announced. Connecticut has a window listed as Nov. 7-21 for a "tournament experience."

“I don't believe we will have a 'state' meet. I think they are trying to structure it so everything remains regional. We have some athletes and parents that are still very apprehensive about competitions,” long-time Branford  CT coach Kevin Connell said. 

Delaware, which fluctuated back and forth on whether to have a fall season at all, is off and running and has Dec. 5 listed for a state meet. Maryland, similar to Delaware, announced in late September teams can start practicing as early as Oct. 7. An “event/tournament” for the state is currently listed for Dec. 14-19. 

“Our kids have been remarkably resilient and from what I've observed across the state the vast majority of students and athletes have been that way,” Kurry said of the situation in Maine. “They're making the most of this strange new life. We're lucky to be in a relatively rural, outdoor oriented culture with lots of opportunities to spread out and have at it.”

In Connecticut, early-to mid-October signifies the Wickham Park Invitational in Manchester, one of the biggest meets in the state and a well-attended event by many New England states. Now, it means the beginning of the season. 

“It's hard to believe we would be looking at Wickham around now but instead we are just starting the regular season,” Connell said. 

For Connell and Branford, which compete in the Southern Connecticut Conference, their first race was held Oct. 2. Their schedule is a five-week tri-meet season followed by a conference division meet in which the winning team will move on to the conference championship meet. Many teams are following suit with limited local competition and dual or tri-meets. 

“We will have five dual meets,” Taylor said. “Currently, the Massachusetts State Track Association (MSTCA) is working on hosting two-three invitationals.”

In Rhode Island, where a state meet is scheduled to happen, teams are running four dual meets, followed by a junior varsity state meet, freshman state meet, RIIL Class Meet and State Championship. Teams will qualify based on standings after the dual meets and team finish at the class meets.

While race day structure looks completely different this fall wave starts, limited or no spectators, and a quick entrance and exit from the course, a new normal and limited competition isn’t stopping teams from making the most of what they lost for so long. 

“Dual meets are better than no meets, right? Our kids are just excited to have something, especially after losing last spring,” Kurry said. 

Added St. Raphael Academy coach Chris Magill: “Rhode Island has many competitive teams, so the dual meets will be very competitive. The athletes are very excited to get the chance to compete, and I believe there will be some impressive performances at the dual meets.”

The fate of the New England High School Cross Country Championships, which bind the states together for a postsesaon meet after the states are through, has not been released.

While a true championship race may not occur and postseason hardware likely won’t be brought home on a bus ride this fall, teams aren’t letting schedules determine what this fall means to them.

“Cross country is not just about competition, winning, losing, and staying in shape,” Taylor said. “The socialization that high school sports like cross country offer is imperative for many student-athletes. We obviously still want to win as many meets as possible. However, my main goal is for us to have fun and make memories and seize every moment together because we still do not know if we will even make it through the season or have it taken away from us like the spring track season was.” 



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