Track Committee backs plan to move indoor season to Fall II

As the status of MIAA winter sports continues to be stuck in a holding pattern awaiting EEA guidance, the Cross Country and Track Committee made a proactive decision during Wednesday morning’s virtual meeting.

The committee voted to support giving leagues the option of moving the indoor track season to Fall II, citing the rising number of COVID19 cases in the state and the unavailability of key venues. The recommendation will now go in front of the COVID-19 Task Force.

The vote came after Weymouth girls cross country and track coach Mike Miller relayed the recommendation of the MSTCA subcommittee.

“Current metrics do not indicate a reasonable opportunity is going to be available for indoor meets during the November and December period, especially in larger facilities that we kind of need to have an optimal season,” said Miller.

The Reggie Lewis Center is closed until at least January, and most college tracks like BU and Smith are also currently unable to be booked.

Miller stressed the need to preserve the indoor season, expressing the concern from the MSTCA that some might see the indoor season as disposable if the outdoor season goes as planned.

Miller also said that combining the indoor and outdoor seasons was discussed but does not seem feasible, with different coaches for each season for some programs and the need to go through the MIAA Board of Directors being just a couple of the hurdles that would need to be cleared.

Which left a switch to Fall II, runningfromFeb. 22toApril25, the best direction to proceed.

“By moving the winter track season to Fall II it would allow for us to have a nineweek season and the option of either indoor meets if metrics allow, or even outdoor if the weather allows,” said Miller.

The committee left the door open for leagues to stay in the winter if possible, pointing out that some schools, like Andover, have their own indoor track facilities.