Cross country goes social distancing
Cross country would appear to be the most simplistic of sports. Competitors begin at the starting line and run to see who gets to the finish line first. Whoever gets from Point A to Point B first, wins.
It was that simple until COVID-19 decided to poke its big nose into it.
The season is scheduled to begin in a few weeks. But as is the case with everything COVID-19 related, the plan is considered fluid.
“We will continue to be positive about the future. As to whether or not the season is jeopardy, we all know we can't predict the future,” said El Dorado cross country coach John Koonce. “We have, and will continue, to adhere to all guidelines proposed by the Arkansas Department of Health to make sure that we are doing our part in contributing to the opportunity for the athletes to compete. Regardless, we are going to be prepared and conditioned to compete.”
Social distancing, keeping the athletes six-feet apart, is a concern during races but even more at the start, where the entire field of runners, sometimes more than a hundred, is bunched up together.
That has not been an issue at El Dorado's practices.
“We haven't had to face as big of hurdles as a lot of the other sports have in terms of practice,” said Koonce. “We have spaced out the check-in times and then sent each individual runner off in 10-second intervals. We have instructed them to not run in packs, and to pass teammates when they start to gain on them. They need reminders of this throughout the practice, but they have really done a good job of adhering to the protocols.”
Hosting meets could be a lot different this season. Keeping everyone safe, both competitors and spectators, has required considerable planning. Koonce, who hosts the Wildcat Invitational, said the coaches and meet organizers have been tasked the responsibility of meeting social distancing requirements.
“We actually aren't allowed to host a meet if it isn't approved by the Arkansas Department of Health. The issues are primarily going to come at the starting line and maintaining a venue that is conducive to physical distancing between spectators,” said Koonce. “We are encouraged to start the runners in waves so you don't have such a big mass of people at the starting line. I've talked to the guy who did our timing last year and he has the capabilities to make this easy for us. I'm not sure how you set up a physically distanced field for spectators in our setting. Last year we hosted about 250 athletes and probably almost as many spectators. This is something that we are still figuring out.
“I've spent a lot of time on the phone with other coaches that host meets, especially Coach Chasteen at Genoa and Coach Smith at Lake Hamilton. I've been out to the venue. I've just about finished up a plan to be submitted to the (Arkansas Department of Health).”
Koonce said he thinks the Wildcat Invitational will be held this season. Although, everything is fluid.
“I think we will be able to pull our meet off,” he said. “I'm developing contingency plans for the big meets. There are meets around the state that host between 3,000-5,000 people when you include athletes and spectators. I'm not at all confident that those meets are going to allow as many athletes and teams as they did last year.”
While there's work and planning going on behind the scenes, the student-athletes must log miles and miles in the August heat in preparation for a season they hope will go as scheduled.
Coaches and athletes are optimistic.
“Our teams have worked hard all summer,” said Koonce. “These young people are facing a harsh reality and they are proving to be resilient in the face of adversity.”