Ivy League Will No Hold Conference Championship In Spring But Is Open To Limited Local Competition; Penn Relays Plans To Be Announced Soon

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Ivy League's Council of Presidents on Thursday released a statement that its spring sports would not hold league competition or league championships due to continued concern for "health and wellbeing of student-athletes."

That means the influential Ivy League schools will lose a fourth consecutive sports season, although there is some daylight in the announcement with the suggestion that "limited, local" competition could be worked out if health conditions improve. 

A year ago, the Ivy League led the way and became the first NCAA Division 1 institutions to shut down competition during the pandemic. Every college conference followed suit in March of 2020. However, while the Ivy League did not re-open for fall or winter sports, most of the rest of the collegiate landscape came to their own determinations and made pathways to continue. 

In the immediate aftermath of Thursday's announcement, Penn Relays officials released a statement on the feasibility of its April event. 

Penn Relays is held on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, which is an Ivy League school. 

"Penn Relays staff continues to work with City and University officials to evaluate the scope of the event," the statement said. 

An announcement on the 2021 event, scheduled for April 22-24, is expected to come in the next two weeks. The cancellation of the 2020 Penn Relays was the first break in the continuity of the event since the Relays started in 1895.