Despite Southern California Regional Championships expected to be held in many sports in June, state track and field meet in Clovis canceled again, along with wrestling and swimming and diving; many sections still planning finals
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
Although California Interscholastic Federation officials announced Wednesday about the goal to hold Southern California Regional Championships in several sports in June, the biggest news delivered was the cancellation of the state track and field championships for the second year in a row as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The meet was scheduled for June 25-26 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High in Clovis.
In a release published Wednesday by the CIF State office, it read: “With only two of the six Northern California Region Sections offering Championships at this time (Central Coast Section and Oakland Section), it is not feasible for the State CIF to conduct Northern California Regional Championships. Also, due to the limited number of Sections in Northern California conducting championships, coupled with potential logistical/travel issues, the State CIF will not be hosting State Championships in swim and dive, track and field, and wrestling.”
The California state meet, which was first held in 1915, had only been interrupted prior to last year from 1942 to 1945 as a result of World War II.
In a press release from CIF-Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod regarding championships scheduled for individual sports such as track and field, golf and tennis, it states: “We are still actively working on securing approvals from various county health departments to ensure that we can conduct championship events. We have obtained some approvals in the various sports, but until we can get them all in a particular sport, I ask for your patience until we can finalize the approval process. As soon as we know, you will know.”
The postseason schedule in the Southern Section has tentatively been outlined as showcasing section prelims June 5 at different locations for each of the four divisions, with the section championships held June 12. The Southern Section Masters meet, originally scheduled for June 19 to determine state qualifiers, is no longer necessary without the presence of a championship meet.
The San Diego Section has planned for its track and field prelims on June 5 and championship meet June 12.
The Los Angeles City Section has tentatively scheduled its track and field finals for June 12.
The Central Section, which hosts the state championship meet at Buchanan, remains intent on hosting its usual Area qualifying meets June 9 and 11, with the Central Section Masters meet expected to be held June 19 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Buchanan.
The Central Coast Section has planned for its prelims to be held June 12 and championship meet June 19, but is still awaiting approval from all of the six counties within the section to be able to host the events.
The Oakland Section has its qualifying and finals scheduled for June 15-16.
Southern California Regional Championships for baseball, softball, boys and girls basketball, boys volleyball, boys and girls soccer, golf and tennis have been approved by state officials, based on Wednesday’s release ranging from June 5 to June 26.
