Coaches And Athletes Welcome New Guidance That Doesn't Require Masks At All Times For Outdoor Sports

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Oregon Health Authority on Monday made breathing easier for high school athletes by easing its guidance on mask wearing in competition. 

The new rule brings Oregon into line with nearly every other state and would seem to acknowledge that COVID-19 spread is unlikely in outdoor settings where social distancing is possible. 

"I have also just heard the news and am very excited about the fact that the mask mandate during competition has been lifted," said Franklin High school senior Charlie Robertson, a University of Colorado distance recruit.

"It has certainly been a bit of a drag to get psyched up before a race only to struggle during it while wearing a mask.  I am looking forward to going after faster times without the mask and am excited to compete against other runners in the PIL and state uninhibited."

The new guideline from the OHA and Gov. Kate Brown's office states "Athletes in noncontact outdoor sports such as track and field, golf and tennis now are allowed to remove masks during competition as long as they can stay at least six feet apart from other competitors."

The new rule applies to non-contact sports track and field, golf and tennis.

The tipping point appeared to come last week when Summit High's Maggie Williams challenged and broke the school record in the 800 meters on her home track in Bend. Racing in a mask, she fell and hit the ground in oxygen debt before reaching the finish line in 2:08.45. 

That incident prompted influential sports columnist and radio talk show host John Canzano of The Oregonian/OregonLive to take up the issue and push back against the state's mask rules. 

"We are thankful for the article Canzano wrote as it seems to be a catalyst," Ida B. Wells coach Thor Esbensen said. "We are saddened that it took such an unfortunate event to get the attention of the powers that be. We sincerely hope that we can have a science/data approach to mask use for outdoor sports. We are also excited to see what some kids can do without the hinderance of a mask. Some of our kids will still wear masks as they believe it is part of doing their part to prevent spread."

Oregon concluded an abbreviated cross country season on April 10 after a six-week period where all runners were supposed to wear masks while racing. 

The effort to try and convince state officials to relax the mask rules for runners began in February, if not earlier. 

"We begged and pleaded as we tried to get them to understand," Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson said. "It never made sense to anyone that you could sit six feet from someone in a coffee shop without a mask, but outside you couldn't do it.

"Kids and coaches want to be compliant, but they've known in their heart and soul that this is wrong."

The interpretation of the previous guidelines were being applied unevenly across the state, with some coaches sticking to the letter of the law and others taking a different view.

The only state where athletes remain masked for competition is New Mexico. 

But there, too, the news is reporting cases where athletes have collapsed while straining for breath. 

"Honestly, we're just thankful," Lincoln coach Eric Dettman said. "Our kids ahve been incredible and diligent in wearing their masks but it's been a struggle to see them perform knowing that their performance has been impeded by wearing a mask," he said.  "We're thankful that the governing bodies have finally lifted that mandate and are super excited to see what our kids are actually capable of."

Oregon's track and field season is in progress and concludes on May 23.